14 Oxford: Antnmn and Winter. 



young with food, unless we are to conclude that 

 they feed them principally with slugs and such 

 small-fry. Here is a point which needs investi- 

 gation. The movements of the Kingfisher seem 

 to be only partly understood, but that they do 

 migrate, whether for short or long distances, I have 

 no doubt whatever. 1 On the Evenlode, another 

 Oxfordshire river, which runs from Moreton-in- 

 the-Marsh to join the Isis at Eynsham, they are 

 rarely to be seen between March and September, 

 or August at the earliest, while I seldom take a 

 walk along the stream in the winter months 

 without seeing one or more of them. 



This bird is one of those which owe much to 

 the Wild Birds Act, of which a short account will 

 be found in Note A, at the end of this volume. 

 It may not be shot between March and August, 

 and though it may be slaughtered in the winter 

 with impunity, the gun-licence and its own rapid 

 flight give it a fair chance of escape. Formerly 

 it was a frequent victim : 



By green Rother's reedy side 



The blue Kingfisher flashed and died. 



1 See Mr. Seebohm's British Birds, vol. ii. p. 345. 



