ALCEDINID^ — THE KINGFISHERS. 



397 



Mr. Dresser noticed several of these birds at Matamoras, in August, and 

 afterwards found them common on the Nueces and the Leona Eivers, in 

 which places they were breeding. In December he saw others near Eagle 

 Pass. They were nowhere so abundant as the common belted species. 



Dr. Coues states that they have been observed on several points on the 

 Colorado River between Fort Mohave and Fort Yuma, — the only instances 

 of their occurrence in the United States other tlian on the Rio Grande. We 

 have but little information in regard to their habits, but there is no reason 

 to suppose that they differ in this respect. 



Mr. Salvin states that this species occurs abundantly everywhere upon 

 the small streams in the Atlantic coast region, and in the interior of Cen- 

 tral America. It was frequently observed near Duenas, both on the Gua- 

 calate and on the outlet of Lake Duenas. And Mr. J. F. Hamilton, in his 

 Notes on the birds from tlie province of Santo Paulo, in Brazil, states that 

 he found this species several times in the vicinity of shallow pools, most 

 especially those of which the banks were well wooded. Several times he 

 saw them perched on logs projecting a few feet out of the water. Dr. Bur- 

 meister speaks of this bird (var. americana) as tlie most common species 

 of Kingfisher in Brazil. It is there met with everywhere near the small 

 brooks, on the overhanging branches, and plunging into the water after its 

 prey, which consists especially of small fish. It is less shy than other 

 species, coming quite near to the settlements and being easily shot. Its 

 nest is found in holes in the banks. 



Mr. E. C. Taylor also mentions finding this species pretty common in the 

 island of Trinidad, especially among the mangroves in the swamps and 

 lagoons. 



Eggs marked as those of Kingfishers were found in the collection of the 

 late Dr. Berlandier, of Matamoras, and are presumed to belong to this 

 species, though no notes in relation to their parentage, and none referring 

 to this bird, were found among his papers. Except in size, they closely 

 resembled eggs of the C. alcyon, being of a pure bright crystal-white color, 

 and measuring 1.06 inclies in length by .61 in breadth. 



Sternum of Ceryle alcyon. 



