392 



NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



the preceding. Bill long, thin. Tarsi longer than hind toe; almost or quite as 

 long as the inner anterior. Plumage with a green metallic gloss above; the 

 occiput with a crest of rather short, indistinct feathers. Type, A. ainazona. 



The genus Geryle was established by Boie on the Alcedo rudis, of Linnaeus, 

 an African species. Modern systematists separate tlie American Kingfishers 

 from those of the Old World, and if correct in so doing, another generic 



1640 



Ceryle alcyon. 



name must be selected for the former. If the two American sections be 

 combined into one, Chloroceryle of Kaup (type, Alcedo amazona) must be 

 taken as being the older, unless, indeed, Ispida of Swainson (1837) be 

 admissible. This appears to have been based on Alcedo alcyon, although 

 including also some Old World species. 



Ceryle alcyon, Boie. 



BELTED KINGFISHER. 



Alcedo alcyon, Linn^us, Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 180. — "Wilson, Am. Orn. Ill, 1811, 59. — 

 Audubon, Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 384 ; pi. Ixxvii. — Ib. Birds America. — Max. Cab. J. 

 VI, 1858, 102. Ceryle alcyon, Boie, Isis, 1828, 316. — Brewer, N. Am. Oology, I, 

 1857, 110, pi. iv, fig. 52 (egg). — Wood, Am. Naturalist, 1868, 379 (nesting). — Baird, 

 Birds N. Am. 1858, 158. — Cooper & Suckley, 167. — Dall & Bannister, Ch. 

 Ac. I, i, 1869, 275 (Alaska). — Finsch, Abh. Nat. Ill, 1872, 29 (Alaska). — Samuels, 

 125. — Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 337. — Allen, B. Fla. 300. Megaceryle alcyon, 

 Eeichenb. Handb. Sp. Orn. I, ii, 1851, 25, pi. ccccxii, fig. 3108-9. Ispida ludovici- 

 ana, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 452. ''Alcedo jaguacate, Dumont, Diet. So. Nat. 

 I, 1816, 455 " (Cassin). ''Alcedo guacu, Vieit.lot, Nouv. Diet. XIX, 1818, 406," 

 (Cassin). Streptocerijle alcyon, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. II, 151. 



Sp. Char. Head with a long crest. Above ashy-blue, without metallic lustre. Beneath, 

 with a concealed band across the occiput, and a spot anterior to the eye, pure white. 

 A band across the breast, and the sides of the body under the wings, like the back. 



