BIEDS OF ARGENTINA, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY, AND CHILE 207 



Xilometer 182 (Riacho Pilaga), Formosa, appear similar to skins 

 from northern South America and Mexico. In a fair series I am 

 not able to make out the distinctions assigned by Bangs and Penard ^^ 

 when ihej recognized the form from Paraguay as M. t. cyanea 

 (VieiUot). 



The species was encountered only in the northern portion of the 

 region that I visited. At Resistencia, Chaco, from July 8 to 10, 

 the ringed kingfisher was recorded in fair numbers, and it was noted 

 that the breeding season was near, as the birds frequently rose in 

 pairs or threes to circle about from 60 to 100 meters from the earth, 

 with slow wing beat and constant calls. At Las Palmas, Chaco, 

 they were fairly common from July 13 to July 31. Mating was 

 completed during this period and by the close of the month their 

 pairing evolutions in the air became infrequent. On July 21 an 

 occupied nest was found in a cut bank above a small stream, the 

 Riacho Quia, placed beneath a mass of roots. The entrance hole 

 was about 140 mm. in diameter and showed along the bottom a 

 double furrowed track with a ridge 16 mm. high, separating the 

 two channels made by the feet of the owners. The nest was nearly 

 2 meters deep and may have contained eggs as both parents circled 

 near in excitement. The location was such that time did not permit 

 an excavation. 



On Augtist 2 in traveling by steamer up the Rio Paraguay above 

 Puerto Las Palmas, the large kingfisher was common in pairs. 

 Frequent cut banks along the streams offered nesting sites. At the 

 Riacho Pilaga the species was recorded from August 9 to IT, and 

 several were seen at Formosa, Formosa, August 23 and 24. It was 

 common along the Paraguay river from September 1 to 3, and 

 on September 30, near Puerto Pinasco, Paraguay and was recorded 

 occasionally at Kilometer 80 in the interior from September 7 to 21. 

 X few were noted on February 6 and 8, 1921, near Lazcano, Uru- 

 guay, along the Rio Cebollati, and one was seen February 19 near 

 Rio Negro, Uruguay. 



The usual call note of the ringed kingfisher is a harsh chuck or 

 check varied at times by a rattle, both calls so similar to notes of 

 some of the woodpeckers as to suggest those birds whenever they 

 are heard. The flight is strong and vigorous and in actions and 

 appearance these birds are suggestive of the belted kingfisher of 

 the north. 



CHLOROCERYLE AMAZONA (Latham) 



Alcedo amazona Latham, Index Orn., vol. 1, 1790, p. 257. (Cayenne.) 



Near Las Palmas, Chaco, this species was recorded at intervals 

 from July 17 to 30, and an adult male was taken July 17. The 



"Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 62, April, 1918, p. 53. 



