1921 .] Economic Status of the Kingfisher . 145 
Unfortunately, I have not been able to obtain any birds 
feeding on river estuaries or near to the coast. 
Analysis shows that of the total bulk of food consumed, 
fish of various kinds forms the major portion, viz., 635 per 
cent. ; injurious insects, either adult or in their larval con¬ 
dition, form the next largest item, viz., 16’5 per cent., 
neutral insects constitute 6'0 per cent., molluscs 4*0 per 
cent., tadpoles and Crustacea each 3‘5 per cent., worms 
1*5 per cent., and miscellaneous animal matter 1*5 per cent. 
Only two items call for special remark, viz., the fish and 
the injurious insects. 
A reference to Table II. showing the monthly percentages 
shows that fish-remains were present in the stomachs 
collected in every month; the highest percentage was taken 
Table II. — Showing the monthly percentages of the food items of the 
adult Kingfisher. 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mcli. 
Apl. May. June. 
July. 
Aug-. 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Nov. Dec. 
Averages. 
Fish . 
80'5 
75-0 
63-5 
41-5 . 
49-5 
54-5 
59-5 
67-0 
80-5 ... 
63-5 
Tadpoles . 
3-5 
8-0 
12-5 . 
6-5 
1-0 
3-5 
Molluscs . 
2-5 
4-0 
2-5 
1-5 .. 
2-5 
4-5 
6-5 
7-5 
4-5 ... 
4-0 
Injurious 
Insects . 
8-5 
10-5 
16-5 
27-5 . 
22-0 
22-0 
20-0 
13-5 
8-0 ... 
16-5 
Neutral 
Insects . 
1-0 
3-0 
4-5 
11-5 . 
10-5 
9-0 
6*5 
5-5 
2-5 ... 
6-0 
Crustacea. 
6*0 
3-5 
2-0 
2-5 . 
4-0 
3-5 
3-5 
3-5 
3-0 ... 
3-5 
Worms ... 
•5 
•5 
1-5 
1-0 . 
2-5 
3-5 
1-5 
1-5 
1-0 ... 
1-5 
Miscell. ... 
1-0 
1-5 
2-0 . 
2-5 
2-0 
2-5 
1-5 
•5 ... 
1-5 
Totals ... 
100-0 
100-0 
100-0 
100-0 . : 
L00-0100-0 
100-0 100-0 
100-0 ... 
1 
100-0 
in November and January, 80*5 per cent, in each month, 
and the lowest percentage in April, 41 ‘5 per cent. It is 
significant that in the months when there are no fry or ova 
about, the percentage stands the highest ; thus we have 
75*0 per cent, in February, 67*0 per cent, in October, 63*0 
per cent, in March, 595 per cent, in September, and 54’5 
per cent, in August. 
ser. xi.— VOL. III. 
L 
