KINGFISHER 315 



are killed each year, "just to get rid of them." We are convinced 

 that the rate of multiplication of the fishes was long- ago adjusted to the 

 "expected depreciation" due to the regular draft on their numbers by 

 kingfishers. Indeed, the birds probably constitute but one of very many 

 causes of fish mortality. Moreover, one bird obtained by us, at Snelling, 

 January 7, 1915, was found to contain in its stomach only sundry frag- 

 ments of water beetles, indicating occasional departure from a purely fish 

 diet. The numbers of the kingfishers are really not large; for example, 

 we kept a pretty close watch from the train one afternoon, along the 

 whole distance from Merced Falls to El Portal, and yet recorded just six 

 individuals. Anj'way, we would forbear to catch our share of trout if this 

 were necessary to preserve in normal numbers so interesting a member of 

 Yosemite's avifauna. 



The Western Belted Kingfisher nests in Yosemite Valley proper, prob- 

 ably each year. In 1920, on June 23, a nest hole was located in the high 

 south bank of the Merced River, about 200 yards below Stoneman Bridge. 

 The entrance was 2 feet below the surface of the ground and 6 feet above 

 the base of the bank, which was there w^ashed by the deep water of an 

 outward bow of the river. The otherwise circular hole had two track-like 

 grooves at the entrance, marking the place where an arriving bird gained 

 its first foothold. While the nest was under observation young birds were 

 suddenly heard inside. Then the male (recognizable by the lack of brown 

 coloring in its belt) arrived bearing a fish which protruded lengthwise 

 from his bill. This bird and its mate had their forage range up and down 

 the river between Stoneman and Sentinel bridges. Earth banks of the 

 sort to accommodate nesting burrows occur along the river at several other 

 points below Stoneman Bridge, but some of these, at least, are wholly 

 inundated by the May floods. For instance, when search was made for 

 kingfishers' nests on June 2, 1915, all the possible nesting sites then known 

 were found to be covered with water. 



A belted kingfisher was noted in Yosemite Valley in the fall of 1915 

 almost daily until November 4, but not subsequently. There is every like- 

 lihood, however, that the species remains throughout the winter, wherever 

 the food supply is adequate, up as high as the streams remain unfrozen. 



Modoc Woodpecker. Dryobates villosus orius Oberholser 



Field characters. — A woodpecker of size of Robin or slightly less. Upper surface 

 black, with a broad white stripe down middle of back; whole under surface, including 

 outer tail feathers, uniformly white; small spots on wing, stripe below eye, and another 

 stripe behind eye, white. (See pi. 5/.) Adult males have narrow fringe of red feathers 

 across back of head, but this is not often to be seen at a distance. Voice: A single 

 sharp note, speenk, uttered at irregular intervals. 



