ALCEDINID^ — AL CEDINIJSlyE : KINGFISHER S. 



573 



(Subgenus Streptoceryle.) 



C. (S.) torqua'ta. (hat. torqtmte, collared.) Collared Kingfisher. ''Ringed" King- 

 fisher. Great Kufous-bellied Kingfisher. Resembling the common species, but 

 much larger and utlierwise different. Adult ^ : Above, ashy-blue, streaked with black, espe- 

 cially on the head ; a white collar around the back of the neck. Tail-feathers with transverse 

 white spots, but none on outer webs of {)rimaries toward their bases. Below, mostly rich ru- 

 fous, the throat and vent only white (no dark pectoral band as in C alcyon). Adult 9: 

 Rufous of under parts e.xtendiug on the crissum, and a dark bluish breast-band. Very large: 

 Length about 16.00; wing 7.50; bill over 3.00. A well-known species of tropical America, 

 casually N. to the Rio Grande of Texas (Laredo, June 2, 1888, specimen in Mus. Acad. 

 I'liilada.). Stone, Auk, Apr. 1894, p. 177; A. O. U. List, 2d ed. 1895, No. [,'390. 1]. 

 C. (S.) arcyon. (Lat. alcyon, a kingfislior. Fig. 388.) Belted Kingfisher. Upper 

 parts, broad pectoral bar, and sides under wings, dull blue with tine black shaft-lines. Lower 

 eyelid, spot before eye, a cervical collar and under parts except as said, pure white ; 9 "'it'' 

 chestnut belly-band and sides of the same color. Quills and tail-feathers black, speckled, 

 !dotche<l or barred on inner 

 webs with wliite; outer webs 

 of secondaries and tail-feath- 

 ers like back ; wing-coverts 

 frequently sprinkled with 

 white. Bill black, pale at 

 base below. Feet dark ; 

 tibia} naked below. A long, 

 tliin, pointed occipital crest; 

 plumage comjiact and oily 

 to resist water, into which 

 the birds constantly plunge 

 after their finny prey. 

 Leiii^nh 12.00-1.3.00; extent 

 2l.()()-23.()0: wing 6.00- 

 6.50; tail 3.50--5.()(); whole 

 foot l..'^3; culmeu 1.75-2.25. 

 X. Am., common every- 

 where, resident or only 

 forced Sfuithward by freez- 

 ing of the waters. This fine 

 bird, whose loud rattling 

 notes are as familiar sounds 

 along our streams as tlie 

 noise of the mill-dam or the 

 machinery, burrows to tlie depth of 6 or 8 feet in the ground, and lays as many crystal white 

 subsplieroidal eggs, 1.35 X 1.05, at the enlarged extremity of the tunnel. Although tisli ftirms 

 tiie main fare, tliis bird shows its family traits by devouring many other animals, as small 

 snakes, lizanis, frogs, toads, crawfish, grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, etc. I have often i*eoii 

 it away from water in the West, where no fish could be had. The situation of the burrow in 

 the face of cut-iianks of earth is more constant tlian its dimensions; sometimes the eggs can 

 almost be reached at arm's lengtli, and again they may be three to five yards under ground. 

 Tlie usual diameter of the hole will hardly admit the arm, but tlie farther end of the burrow 

 i.s pocketed to a diameter of 8 or 10 inchts. Tliirf is no true nest, but the eggs are usually 



Fio. 388. — BeUe<l KiiiKfislier. 



