208 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



iter-blue. The nest complement varies from two to five, rarely six, 

 usually four, and they are found in all stages of incubation, as is the 

 case with the eggs of C. americanus. Ten specimens measure I.I3X 

 .79, i. ii x. 86, 1.15 x. 84, i.i3x.8o, i.i7x.82, i.i7x.84, i.igx.So, 1.12 

 x.86, 1. 13 x. 82, i.iSx.Sg, with an average size of I.I4X.79. 



390. Ceryle alcyon (LINN.) [382.] 



Belted Kingfisher. 



Hab. Entire North America, South Panama and West Indies. 



This is the familiar bird whose loud, coarse, rattling notes are 

 heard along our streams. It may be seen perched upon the lower 

 branches of a tree overhanging the water, or on the top of a dead 

 stump ; these places furnish a favorite outlook, from which it plunges 

 beneath the water to secure its prey, which is chiefly fish. It is a 

 curious fact that Mr. W. E. D. Scott frequently met with this bird in 

 the desert region of Southern Arizona, far from water, feeding on the 

 large insects and lizards. 



The nest of the Kingfisher is an excavation in the face of a per- 

 pendicular bank of a stream, or in the banks of gravel pits. The 

 entrance is generally about two or three feet below the surface ; the tun- 

 nel is usually straight, but sometimes an angle from three to six or 

 eight feet, and is dug by the bird. The Kingfisher ejects from its 

 mouth the bones, scales and other indigestible portions of its food, like 

 a bird of prey. Thus are we able to account for the bones and other 

 refuse of food found in the nesting cavities, in the midst of which the 

 eggs are deposited. The eggs are of a clear shining white, nearly 

 spherical in shape, usually six in number ; when the full complement 

 is laid it generally numbers seven or eight. Six eggs measure i-34x 

 1.07, 1.35x1.08, 1.37x1.04, 1.47x1.03, 1.37x1.05, 1.40x1.08. 



391, Ceryle cabanisi (TSCHUDI.) [383.] 



Texan Kingfisher. 



Hab. Southern Texas to Arizona, south to Ecuador and Western Peru. 



This beautiful little bird, known as Texan Green Kingfisher, is 

 quite common in suitable places along the streams of Southern Texas 

 wherever the water is not too muddy for it to clearly see its prey. 

 Like the Belted Kingfisher, this species nests in holes of banks, 

 depositing the eggs on the bare floor of the cavity, or upon fish-bones 

 and other extraneous matter. 



Mr. Brewster describes the eggs of this species, taken in Comal 

 county, Texas, April 35, as extremely thin-shelled, rounded-oval 

 and nearly elliptical in shape, clear ivory-white, with a rather 

 high polish ; others creamy- white, with scarcely any polish. The sizes 



