140 
Dr. W. E. Collinge on the [Ibis, 
Some little time ago the writer was appealed to for some 
definite information as to the precise nature of the food of 
the Kingfisher. Unfortunately, as in the case of so many 
other British birds, no such information was available; the 
present investigation was therefore undertaken. 
The results here set forth are based upon the examination 
of 120 nest-contents, obtained from sixteen counties ; 
53 pellets; and the stomach-contents of 27 birds obtained 
from eight counties during all the months of thfe year 
excepting May, June, and December. Numerous field 
observations have also been made. 
The method adopted throughout for estimating the food 
percentages is that known as the volumetric one (3). 
Table I.—Showing number of adult Kingfishers and nest-contents 
examined in this investigation, arranged to show locality 
and month in which collected. 
County. 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mch. Apl. May. June. July. Aug 
. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 
Totals. 
Bedford 
1/2 
1/2 1/3 
1/3 
Birds. Nests. 
4 10 
Cheshire ... 
1/ 
V 
/I 1/1 
/a 
/a 
3 
6 
Cumberland. 
/a 
/2 
1/ . 
... /2 
1/6 
A 
/l 
2 
14 
Devon . 
... /3 
/i 
/a 
0 
6 
Dorset . i 
/4 
/2 
/l 
0 
7 
Hants ...... 
/3 
/l 
/a 
0 
6 
Hereford 
V 
1/ 
V . 
1/ 1/4 
/3 
1/2 
6 
9 
Leicester ... 
/a 
/5 
/l 
0 
8 
Lincoln 
/a 
/I 
/i 
0 
4 
Middlesex ... 
V 
1/ 
1/ ... ... 
1/7 
/4 
V 
5 
11 
Nottingham. 
... If' 
1/3 
2 
3 
Norfolk 
/a 
/a 
0 
4 
Warwick ... 
1/ . 
... /3 
/a 
/i 
1 
6 
Worcester . 
/a 
1/ 
1/ . 
1/5 
1/2 
/I 
4 
10 
Yorkshire ... 
,/5 
. /4 
/2 
/3 
0 
14 
Ireland . 
/I ... /I 
0 
2 
Totals ... 
1/11 
2/6 
5/3 5/1 ... /5 
2/3 4/16 4/35 3/29 
1/8 
/3 
27 + 120 
The figures on the left denote the number of birds, and those on the right the 
number of nest-contents. 
