—49— 



On June 22, a specimen was seen at Estey's Pond. On 

 August 6, a fine specimen was brought to the Station by Mr. 

 Estey, who rejDorted the species very common on his ranch. 

 No notes were made concerning its occurrence nearer the 

 Station. 



390. BELTED KINGFISHER, Ceryle alcyon (Linn.) 



The belted kingfisher is a common resident in summer along 

 the shore of Sin-yale-a-min Lake. Xo specimens were taken, 

 but were easily accessible, and were noted in all our daily lists. 

 The clear waters of the lake furnished this avian fisher very 

 attractive accommodations. By measurement it was found that 

 we could see objects to the depth of thirty-five feet, and the 

 schools of minnows playing near the shore were easy prey for 

 the kingfisher. However, the kingfisher is not always success- 

 ful in its dashes for its finny victim; in my opinion it fails more 

 frequently than it succeeds. It always seizes its prey with 

 its bill, and frequently finds it necessary to thrash its victim 

 against a stake or branch before it can stow the morsel away 

 in its gullet. 



It was daily noted plying its vocation near the inlet of Lake 

 McDonald. At the month of the inlet the fishing was par- 

 ticularly fine, and the fact that the water from the ravine 

 above the lake entered the reservoir by several small mouths 

 rendered the sport unusually excellent. It appeared that only 

 one pair of kingfishers claimed the fishing rights of this lab 1 

 No srjecimens were taken. 



The kingfisher was seen at all times near the Slation, fre- 

 quenting the banks of Swan River near its mouth, and es- 

 pecially near the boat landing, where the shallower water afford- 

 ed easier fishing grounds than the more turbulent flow 

 of the river proper. This species was also found abundantly 

 on Swan Lake, where we took several specimens while stand- 

 ing in our camp at the foot of the lake. Though we had rea- 

 son to believe that there were no fish in Daphnia Pond, and 

 few in Estey's Pond, the kingfisher was observed at both sta- 

 tions, and we concluded that the numerous frogs along the 

 margins of the ponds offered the avian fisherman easier preT 

 than the snort at Swan River. 



