ALCEDO, or the KINGS-FISHER, in ornithology, a genus of the order of picae. The alcedo has a long, straight, thick, triangular bill; with a fleshy, plain, short, flat tongue. There are seven species of the alcedo, viz. 1. The isipida, or common kings-fisher, with a short tail, blue above, and yellowish below. It haunts the shores of Europe and Asia. 2. The erithaca, with a short tail, a blue back, a yellow bill, a purple head and rump, and the throat and opposite part of the neck white. It is a native of Bengal. 3. The alyon, with a short black tail, white belly, and ferruginous breast. It is a native of America. 4. The todus, with a short green tail, a blood-coloured throat, and a white belly. It is a native of America; and is the green sparrow, or green humming-bird of Edwards. 5. The smyrnensis, with a short green tail, ferruginous wings, and green back. It is a native of Africa and Asia. 6. The rudis, with a brown short tail variegated with white. It is a native of Persia and Egypt. 7. The dea, with two very long feathers in the tail, a blackish blue body, and greenish wings. It is a native of Surinam. All the species of this genus dive in the water, and catch fish with their long beaks.