Part III.] 



Pond Fish Culture. 



159 



Enemies of Fish. The Birds. 

 The Kingfisher. 



Another constant and persistent enemy of the fish at the 

 Hatchery during the summer season is the kingfisher. These 

 birds are present on the Hatchery grounds from spring until 

 late in the fall, and they feed constantly upon small fish. Only 

 yesterday, August 15, 1913, while we were writing this part 

 of this bulletin, we saw a kingfisher dart into the water several 

 times after small fish at a distance no greater than forty feet 

 from the window where we were sitting. 



After striking the water the bird, with a small fish in its 

 beak, lit on the cement wall that inclosed this particular re- 

 taining pond. The bird placed the fish on the wall, and after 

 looking about preened its feathers a little picked up the fish 



A pair of kingfishers. 

 From specimens mounted by the author in Kansas University Museum. 



and swallowed it. Almost immediately the bird dashed into 

 the water again and came up with another small fish. It sat 

 on the cement wall some little time, with the fish in its beak, 

 and finally the fish disappeared down the bird's throat. In a 

 few moments the bird dashed into the water and secured a 

 third fish, which it placed on the wall. The kingfisher now 

 preened its feathers as before, then picked the fish up, and 

 after holding it in its beak for some little time swallowed it. 

 We did not note the time that had passed, but all this happened 

 in a very few minutes, about 10 A. M. Again the kingfisher 



