I70 GLIMPSES OF INDIAN BIRDS 



it a chance of escape. After a little manoeuvring the 

 kingfisher got the frog in the desired position, and, 

 having held it thus for a few seconds, swallowed it. 



Then the kingfisher remained squatting on the 

 bank for a couple of minutes looking pensive. This 

 was scarcely to be wondered at, seeing that as regards 

 size the frog bore to him the same relation as a large 

 mackerel does to a man. I was interested to see 

 whether the kingfisher would consider this a sufficient 

 meal, or whether he would immediately resume his 

 fishing operations. I expected him to adopt the latter 

 course, for birds have most voracious appetites. If 

 horses were to eat in the same ratio they would require 

 at least a maund of oats per diem to keep them in 

 health I My surmise was correct. In a few seconds 

 the kingfisher flew to a large stake projecting from the 

 water and squatted there, cocking up his tail at frequent 

 intervals. This motion of the tail is possibly an aid to 

 digestion ! When he was thus seated, the tern re- 

 appeared on the scene and at once recommenced 

 fishing in the manner already described. After the 

 tern had been fishing for a couple of minutes the king- 

 fisher resumed operations and again sought the 

 neighbourhood of the ducks. He soon captured a second 

 frog ; but this time, instead of being able to bear it 

 to the bank and devour it in peace, he had to reckon 

 with the tern. He had not risen a yard above the 

 water when the tern noticed that he had quarry. Forth- 

 with the tern committed a breach of the tenth com- 

 mandment and then proceeded to try to violate the 

 eighth. He made a swoop at the kingfisher, which the 



