The Birds of Wyoming. S7 



KINGFISHERS. 



390. Ceryle alcyon (Linn.). 

 Belted Kingfisher, 



Summer resident and common along wooded streams up 

 to 8,000 feet. The only objection to this beautiful bird is- that 

 it depletes the streams of the small fry ; but this is not of suf- 

 ficient importance to warrant any step to be taken for their 

 extermination. As compared with many other species they 

 are few in number. They are truly expert fishers and seldom 

 miss their prey when seeking it. In September, 1896, while 

 I was standing on the bank of the Little Popo Agie river, south- 

 east of Lander some ten miles, a Kingfisher alighted on a 

 dead tree overhanging a deep pool. He had rested only an 

 instant when he plunged into the water and disappeared while 

 I breathlessly waited his reappearance. I would not say how 

 long he remained under water; but it was many seconds and 

 after I had almost concluded that he had in some manner be- 

 come entangled in the pool he came to the surface three or 

 four yards from where he disappeared with a good sized fish 

 in his bill, flew to the place where he first alighted and pro- 

 ceeded to swallow the fish. This is the only instance when I 

 have ever seen the Kingfisher disappear beneath the surface 

 of the stream, where he must have had an exciting chase while 

 swimming under water. Nearly all of the bird collectors in Wy- 

 orning have reported this species. Coues reports three speci- 

 mens without giving exact locality. Drexel took specimens at 

 Fort Bridger in 1858; Allen reports them in 1871 ; Grinnell 

 from the Yellowstone park in 1875; Jesurun from Douglas; 

 Bond from Cheyenne; Gary from Newcastle. Williston re- 

 ports them May ist from Lake Como and later occasionally 

 seen along Rock creek. I have noted these birds from every 

 county in the state. 



