126
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
Nightjar.
Seebohm records that this bird casts up in the form of pellets
the refuse of its food, which consists exclusively of insects such as
moths and night flying beetles."31
Our member, Mr. F. J. Stubbs, has often found castings of
the Nightjar. He reports (in litt. Nov. 20, 1922) as follows:—
"I well remember a small dead prostrate branch in the Forest
at Theydon Bois that was used as a roost by a nightjar. I often
found accumulations of the pellets, and I tried occasionally to
find out the nature of the food, Nearly all those I examined
were remains of lepidoptera, especially the scales. Pellets from
other districts have had the remains of beetles, and other insects.
I have questioned two experienced observers. Both of these
have actually collected Nightjar pellets, and have often noticed
them, especially at the 'nests.' The pellets are grey and small,
oval, perhaps half an inch by three-eighths."
Kingfisher.
There is now a general consensus of opinion among ornitho-
logists that this bird throws up pellets of its food, consisting
largely of fish-bones, out of which accumulation in its nest-hole a
bed or nest is made for the reception of its eggs. The pellets
are very fragile, and require to be treated with gelatine before
they can be safely handled. A writer in The Field32 saw a pellet
actually ejected. He reports: "I observed that before taking
its prey, the bird cast up a small white pellet composed of small
fish-bones, which crumbled to pieces when touched." Another
observer, who kept a young kingfisher in confinement and
so had abundant opportunity for observation of his captive,
says: "The castings or pellets cast up by the kingfisher vary
considerably; some are pure white, and remind one of very fine
crystals, and others are different shades of drab or grey; they are
composed, I believe, entirely of fish-bones, and are about half-
an-inch long, and oval; I believe they are cast up at different
times of the day, and the average number produced is about one
per day."33
Miss G. Lister informs me that she has received pellets of the
kingfisher, found close to a favourite fishing-perch of the bird
31 History of British Birds, 1884, p. 312.
32 Quoted in the Zoologist, 1864, p. 9361.
33 Zoologist, 1876, p. 5082.