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THE GUIDE TO NATURE 



The Belted Kingfisher. 



BY EDWIN L. JACK, PORTLAND, MAINE. 

 [Photograph by the Author.] 



There are few people, indeed, who are 

 imfamiHar with this Izaak W'ahon 

 among birds which inhabit the regions 

 of lakes, rivers and streams in the more 

 remote districts of our northern states. 



glossy white eggs on a little heap of 

 rejected fish bones and scales which in 

 her opinion serves as a nest for the 

 young. 



In recent years, especially in the 

 more remote regions, kingfishers have 

 become very nitmerous and complaints 

 are arising from the fish hatcheries to 

 which the bird frecpiently finds its way. 



YOUNG KINGFISHERS TWELN'E D 



As the kingfisher's diet consists en- 

 tirely of fish, — chiefly chubs, perch and 

 frequently trout, — it is not at all un- 

 common to come upon him perched 

 motionless on an old dead snag over- 

 hanging the water, watching the crystal 

 depths below for his unsuspecting prey. 

 Suddenly, as an unwary fish swims 

 within range of the bird's vision, there 

 is a flash of blue as the kingfisher dives, 

 striking the water with a resounding 

 splash. Immediately he returns to his 

 favorite perch to devour the prize, 

 which if it be a small fish is swallowed 

 head first. 



A peculiarity of the kingfisher is the 

 fact that following a meal the bird re- 

 jects all indigestible matter, such as 

 bones, fish scales, etc. 



Like the bank swallow, this bird 

 places its nest at the end of a tunnel in 

 a bank, which is of clay or gravel and 

 near the water. A pair of kingfishers 

 will sometimes w^ork on an excavation 

 for three weeks before the desired 

 length is attained, tunneling their wav 

 into a solid embankment by the use of 

 their strong, sharp bills. At the end 

 of this tunnel, which is usually six feet 

 in length, is an enlarged chamber. 

 Here the female lays from five to seven 



AYS BEFORE LEAVING THEIR NEST. 



I once visited a state hatchery in the 

 interior of Maine, which was situated 

 near a large lake. The inen in charge 

 told me they were obliged to shoot over 

 forty kingfishers in less than one 

 month. The birds had discovered that 

 hunting in the shallow pools about the 

 hatchery, which were swarming with 

 trout, was much more easy than wait- 

 ing by the hotir in their nattiral environ- 

 ments for a meal. 



That the kingfisher is a bird worthy 

 of protection in its wild state, is gener- 

 ally acknowledged, as it is known to 

 subsist principally upon fish which are 

 of little or no value as food, but which 

 live upon the eggs and young of other 

 more valuable species. It is therefore 

 to be regretted that it should become 

 necessary to shoot or trap these birds 

 in such instances as above mentioned. 



While there is no doubt that the 

 kingfisher at times may do serious dam- 

 age in destroying yotmg trout, it seems 

 as though ways might be devised for 

 protecting the fish without destroying 

 these birds in any such numbers. 



Many hatcheries now have the pools 

 which contain the young trout screened 

 although this is rather expensive. 



