LAND BIRDS. 343 



minnows, chubs and related fish. Much complaint is made by fishermen 

 about the damage done by the Kingfisher, but this is almost entirely 

 imaginary. In a few cases persons who are raising gold fish, trout and 

 other fish in large quantities, and in exposed situations, may suffer some- 

 what from the visits of the Kingfisher, but the harm done on open streams 

 and ponds is infinitesimal. 



Besides fish the Kingfisher eats large numbers of crayfish, some frogs 

 (mainly when fish are scarce), and many insects. Professor Aughey, of 

 Nebraska, writes "One that was sent to me to identify in September, 1874, 

 had 18 locusts, in addition to portions of some fish, in its stomach. One 

 that I opened in September, 1876, had mingled at least 14 locusts with his 

 fish diet" (1st Rep. U. S. Entom. Com., App. 2, p. 39). Another writer 

 records taking from a Kingfisher's stomach "fragments of various beetles 

 belonging to the famiUes Carabidse, Dytiscidse and Scaraboeidse." Larvae 

 of these beetles, particularly those of the Dytiscidse, are known to destroy 

 immense numbers of newly hatched trout, and the good done by the King- 

 fisher in consuming the beetles undoubtedly more than offsets any slight 

 harm it may do in catching young trout. Probably it is not markedly 

 beneficial, but it is a beautiful bird, whose presence adds much to the 

 pleasure of the summer resorts, and its absence would be keenly felt by the 

 nature lover. The custom of shooting the Kingfisher on sight, and in- 

 cluding it in the list of birds which may be killed in the competitive hunting 

 matches which are in vogue in some parts of the country, cannot be too 

 strongly deplored. The present law of the state protects the Kingfisher 

 at all seasons and this law should be rigidly enforced. 



The Kingfisher arrives early from the south, usually in March, or by the 

 time the ice is out of the streams. It lingers in the fall until the waters 

 which it commonly frequents begin to freeze over, when most of the birds 

 move southward, although a few occasionally remain all winter in favorable 

 locahties. During prolonged rough weather, when fish can be seen with 

 difficulty, the Kingfisher is said to suffer much from hunger, and in such 

 cases always resorts to other food, even trying to catch mice, according 

 to Bendire. The latter writer also records one instance in which a King- 

 fisher was seen to greedily devour the berries of the sourgum (Nyssa 

 aquatica). 



At the south the eggs are laid in April, while in the Arctic Circle they may 

 not be laid until the latter part of June. The male often digs a shallow 

 burrow near the one occupird by his mate and uses this for roosting at night. 

 According to Bendire only one brood is reared in a season, and the period 

 of incubation is about sixteen days. The female alone incubates, but the 

 male carries food to her at frequent intervals. For some time after the 

 young leave the nest they are dependent on the old birds for at least a 

 part of their food; but some of the stories as to methods employed by 

 the old birds in teaching the young to fish must be taken with a very large 

 grain of allowance. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



]iill long, strong, sharp, with a keel on the ridge, the edges of both mandibles minutely 

 barbed backward, like the tip of a porcupine quill, evidently for the purpose of holding 

 the slippery prey; feet small and weak, the three front toes largely grown together 

 (syndactylous), the sole much flattened, the tibia bare above the heel; head strongly 

 crested; iris dark brown; bill black. 



Adult male: Above, clear leaden blue (plumbeous), the conspicuous double crest 

 with most feathers darkening at the tips; a small white spot in front of eye; chin, throat 



