396 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



Ceryle americana, var. cabanisi, Tschudi. 



TEXAS KINGFISHER; GREEN KINGFISHER. 



Alcedo americana, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 451 (in part). Ceryle ainericana, Law- 

 rence, Annals N. Y. Lyceum, V, 1851, 118 (first introduction into the fauna of 

 United States). — Ca.ssin, Illustrations, I, 1855, 255. — Brewer, N. Am. Oology, I, 

 1857, 3, pi. iv, f. 53 (egg). — Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 159, pi. xlv. — Ib. Mex. 

 B. II ; Birds 7, pi. vii. — Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 1870, 339. Alcedo viridis, Vieillot, 

 Nouv. Diet. XIX, 1818, 413 (Cassin). Ceryle cabanisi, Reichenb. Handb. sp. Orn. 

 I, 27. — Caban. Mus. Hein. 11, 147. Alcedo cabanisi, Tschudi. 



Sp. Char. Head slightly crested. Upper parts, together with a pectoral and abdominal 

 band of blotches, glossy green, as also a line on each side the throat. Under parts 

 generally, a collar on the back of the neck, and a double series of spots on the quills, 

 white. Female with a broad band of chestnut across the breast. Young of both sexes 

 similar to the adult, but white beneath tinged with buff, and marking on breast more 

 obsolete. Length about 8.00; wing, 3.14. 



Hab. Rio Grande region of Texas and southward. Localities : Honduras (Scl. P. 

 Z. S. 1858, 358) ; Bogota (Scl. P. Z. S. 1853, 130) ; Cordova (Scl. P. Z. S. 1856, 286) ; 

 Guatemala (Scl. Ibis, I, 131) ; Honduras (Ibis, II, 117) ; S. E. Texas (Dresser, Ibis, 1865, 

 472, breeds) ; Colorado River (Coues P. A. N. S. 1866, 59) ; Costa Rica (Lawr. N. Y. 

 Lye. IX, 118). 



This species is much smaller than the Northern or Belted Kingfisher, and 

 is easily distinguishable by the diagnostic marks already given. The sexes 

 appear to differ, like those of C. alcyon, namely, the female being distin- 

 guished by a rufous pectoral band, which is wanting in the male 



Tsclmdi and Cabanis separate the northern from the more southern bird 

 under the name of C. cabanisi ; Tschudi retaining the name of C. americana 

 for specimens resident in eastern South America. The differences are 

 said to consist in the larger size, longer bill, greater extension of the white 

 of the throat, and the decided spotting on the wing-coverts and quills of 

 cabanisi. Though these differences are readily appreciable, they correspond 

 so entirely with natural laws, distinguishing northern and southern in- 

 dividuals of most resident species, that it is only fair to consider them as 

 merely modifications of a single species. 



Several other species of Chloroccryle proper are found in Tropical America. 



Habits. So far as is certainly known, this species is only found within 

 our fauna as a bird of Texas, where it is occasional, rather than common, and 

 confined to its western limits. From information received, I am confident 

 that it will yet become known as at least of rare occurrence in Southern 

 Florida, and possibly along the whole gulf coast. It was first noticed as a 

 bird of the United States by Captain McCown, and added to our list by 

 Mr. Lawrence, in 1851. It has since then been occasionally taken near the 

 Eio Grande and in all the northeastern portions of Mexico. It is said to 

 be found nearly throughout Mexico, and to be abundant also in Central 

 America. 



