FAMILY ALCEDINIDAE 43 1 



have been available, but they should be generally similar to those of 

 the very slightly larger subspecies Chloroceryle americana septen- 

 trionalis, found from southern Texas to Guatemala. Eggs of a set 

 of 5 of that race collected at Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, in the 

 A. C. Bent collection in the U. S. National Museum, are white with 

 very faint gloss, and are subelliptical in shape. The range in size is 

 24.7-24.8x19.0-19.7 mm. 



The green kingfisher dives regularly for small fishes, often dis- 

 appearing completely beneath the surface of the water. Fish have 

 been the only food that I have found in stomach examination. 



As a species Chloroceryle americana ranges from southern Arizona 

 and southern Texas south through Central America and South 

 America to western Peru, Bolivia, central Argentina, Uruguay, and 

 southern Brazil. Through this vast area there is clinal variation in 

 size from large in the north to small in Brazil, and then slight in- 

 crease again in the far southern area. These size differences, with 

 slight variation in pattern of markings and color, have been the 

 basis for recognition of several geographic races. The following 

 summary outlines the three that concern the present account of the 

 population of Panama. 



Chloroceryle americana septentrionalis (Sharpe) 



Ceryle septentrionalis Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. 17, 1892, p. 134. 

 (Teapa, Tabasco, Mexico.) 



Size large; white markings on wing and tail more extensive; 

 female with dark breastband averaging narrower, with less black 

 on sides of breast, this in some forming a secondary cross band ; 

 white of foreneck and breast only slightly marked with buff. 



Measurements. — Males (24 specimens), wing 80.0-86.8 (82.6), 

 tail 53.9-60.4 (57.1), oilmen from base 44.3-52.5 (49.2), tarsus 

 9.2-11.0 (10.0) mm. 



Females (16 specimens) wing 81.5-88.7 (84.5), tail 55.8-62.8 

 (58.9), oilmen from base 46.7-52.0 (48.9), tarsus 9.5-10.9 (10.2) 

 mm. 



From southern Texas south through eastern and southern Mexico 

 to El Salvador and Guatemala. 



Chloroceryle americana isthmica (Goldman) 



Averaging slightly smaller ; white markings on wing and tail some- 

 what reduced. Female, with dark breastband broader ; dark markings 



