No. 20.] THE BIRDS OF CONNECTICUT. 283 



counting the heads and jaws; but in many cases this was nearly 

 impossible, as many of the insects were very young and the jaws 

 consequently minute. The result of this estimate, however, 

 showed that no less than 2,771 caterpillars were contained in 129 

 stomachs, or an average of more than 21 in each. If the whole 

 number of stomachs (155) is considered, the average is reduced 

 to 18; and it is absolutely certain that this is much below the 

 actual number. 



" During May and June, when tent caterpillars are defoliating 

 the fruit trees, these insects constitute half of the Cuckoo's food. 

 When Cuckoos visit the nest of the tent caterpillars they ap- 

 parently eat as many of the occupants as possible. Most of the 

 stomachs that contained the larvae at all were filled with them, 

 some having more than 100 individuals." (Beal, "The Food of 

 Cuckoos.") 



" An examination of the stomachs of 16 Black-billed Cuckoos, 

 taken during the summer months, showed the remains of 328 

 caterpillars, 11 beetles, 15 grasshoppers, 63 sawflies, 3 stiiik-bugs, 

 and 4 spiders." " Of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 21 stomachs, col- 

 lected from May to October, inclusive, were examined. The 

 contents consisted of 355 caterpillars, 18 beetles, 23 grasshoppers, 

 31 sawflies, 14 bugs, 6 flies, and 12 spiders. As in the case of 

 the Black-billed Cuckoo, most of the caterpillars belonged to hairy 

 species, and many of them were of large size." (Beal, " Some 

 Common Birds in their relation to Agriculture.") 



KINGFISHERS. 



Alcedinidce. 



The Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) feeds chiefly on small 

 fish, the vast majority of which are of no economic value. Mice, 

 frogs, and grasshoppers are also said to be occasionally captured, 

 and the young are fed with various aquatic insects. (Weed and 

 Dearborn, " Birds in their Relation to Man.") Its chief value, 

 however, is an 'aesthetic one, the boldly marked form and noisy 

 rattle adding interest to the shore of lake, river, and sound. 



