ALCEDINID^ — THE KINGFISHERS. 



397 



Mr. Dresser noticed se\-ei'al of tliese birds at Matamoras, in August, and 

 afterwards found them couiinou on the Xueces and tlie Leona Rivers, in 

 which places they were breeding. In December he saw others near Eagle 

 Pass. They were nowliere so abundant as the common belted species. 



Dr. Coues states that they have been observed on several points on the 

 Colorado Ei\er between Fort Mohave and Fort Yuma, — the only instances 

 of their occurrence in the United States other than on the Rio Grande. We 

 have but little information in regard tu tlieir habits, but there is no reason 

 to suppose that they differ in this respect. 



Mr. Salvin states tliat this species occurs abundantly everywliere upon 

 the small streams in the Atlantic coast region, and in the interior of Cen- 

 tral America. It was frec|uently observed near Duenas, I)oth on the Gua- 

 ealate and on the outlet of Lake Duenas. And Mr. J. F. Hamilton, in his 

 Notes on the birds from the province of Santo Paulo, in Brazil, states that 

 he found this species several times in the vicinity of shallow pools, most 

 especially those of which the banks were well wooded. Several times he 

 saw them perched on logs projecting a few feet out of the water. Dr. Bur- 

 meister speaks of this bird (var. americana) as the most common species 

 of Kingfisher in Brazil. It is there met with everywhere near the small 

 brooks, on the overhanging branches, and plunging into the water after its 

 prey, which consists especially of small fish. It is less shy than other 

 species, coming quite near to the settlements and being easily shot. Its 

 nest is found in holes in the banks. 



^Ir. E. C. Taylor also mentions finding this species pretty common in the 

 island of Trinidad, especially among the mangroves in the swamjis and 

 lagoons. 



Eggs marked as those of Kingfishers were found in tlie collection of the 

 late Dr. Berlandier, of Matamoras, and are presumed to lielong to this 

 species, though no notes in relation to their parentage, and none referring 

 to this bird, were found among his papers. Except in size, they closely 

 resembled eggs of the C. alcyon, being of a pure bright crystal-white color, 

 and measuring 1.06 inches in length by .61 in breadth. 



Steniuni of Cirt/lc alcyon. 



