326 BROOKLYN INSTITUTE MUSEUM. SCIENCE BULLETIN 2. 6. 



ALCEDINIDAE— THE KINGFISHERS. 



Five species are included in Berlepsch and Hartert's paper, all 

 of which were observed on the Orinoco by the writer. These, like 

 the Jacamars, frequent the same general localities throughout the year. 



The native names Matraqiicro and Martin Pcscador are applied 

 indififerently to any and all kingfishers found in the Orinoco region. 



•Key to the Genera, Species and Subspecies of Alcedinidae. 



a. Breast and sides, including flanks, chestnut. 



b. Middle of belly and crissum white (the smallest of the American 



kingfishers) : Chloroceryle aenea aenea. 



b'. Center of breast and crissum chestnut, nearly uniform with sides. 



c. Very large, wing more than 14 cm ; back slate blue, not iridescent . . Megaceryle iorquala torquala. 

 c' . Much smaller, wing less then 14 cm; back dark green, iridescent . . Chloroceryle inda. 

 a'. Sides and flanks not chestnut but with a broad chestnut band across 

 the breast in the males. 



c. Innerwebsof tail-feathers spotted with white Chloroceryle amazona. 



c' . Inner webs of tail-feathers white for basal half or more Chloroceryle americana ameri- 



cana. 



Chloroceryle inda (Linnaeus). 

 Alcedo inda L., Syst. Nat. ed. 12. 1766. p. 179. 

 Cerylc inda Berlepsch & Hartert, p. 104. 



Observed at various points on the Orinoco above the mouth of 

 the Apure River. It is recorded from points on the Caura River by 

 Berlepsch and Hartert. 



Chloroceryle aenea aenea Pallas. 

 Alcedo {aenea) Pallas, in Vroeg's Cat. Ois., Adumbr., 1764, i, no. 54 



(Surinam). 

 Ceryle superciliosa Berlepsch & Hartert, p. 104. 



Common all along the river; also recorded from points on the 

 Caura River. 



Eye seal brown ; bill blackish ; feet dusky. 



Megaceryle torquata torquata (Linnaeus). 

 Alcedo torquata L., Syst. Nat. ed. 12. 1766. p. 180. 



Ceryle torquata Berlepsch, Ibis, 1884. p. 435 (Rio Apure) ; Berlepsch 



& Hartert, p. 104. 



Not observed at Bolivar. Common at Caicara and farther up the 

 river, as far as the first falls, at least. 



■ Eye dark seal brown ; bill blaCk, slate color at base of mandible and 

 at basal angle of maxilla ; feet dusky plumbeous olive. 



