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National Geographic : 1974 Sep
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The struggle finally ends when one exhausted bird flies off in search of a new fishing and breeding ground. A rarely seen phenome non, this duel lasted seven hours, seriously weakening both birds and frightening away the loser's mate. Several days later another female appeared, and she and the victor began to prepare a nest. Though a fierce guardian of hunting and nesting ter ritory, the kingfisher has long been a symbol of peace and serenity. In classical mythology the bird, named halcyon in Latin, built its nest upon the sea, which the gods calmed until the eggs hatched. The Roman scholar Pliny perpetuated the legend: "They breed at midwinter, on what are called the halcyon days, during which the sea is calm and navigable." For centuries Europeans have hailed the bird as a sign of good fortune. Some collected feathers for luck and used dried skins to repel moths. Another fable held that if the kingfisher were suspended by a string, its beak would point north. 417
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