14 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 
Amazonian Kingfisher, Ceryle?amazona, its colour 
above dark green, beneath white with a broad chest- 
nut pectoral band. In Buenos Ayres this bird was 
fairly common and was usually seen in pairs. Its 
cry is exceedingly loud, hard, and abrupt, and so 
rapidly reiterated as to give it a sound resembling 
that of a policeman’s rattle. But this is not its only 
language, and I was greatly surprised one day at 
hearing one warbling long clear notes, somewhat 
flute-like in quality, as it flew from tree to tree along 
the borders of a stream. It seems very strange that 
there should be a melodious Kingfisher; but Mr. 
Barrows also heard the allied Ceryle americana sing, 
much to his surprise. My belief is that the birds of 
this group possess a singing faculty but very rarely 
exercise it; with C. americana I am well acquainted, 
yet I never heard it utter any note except its hard 
rattling cry, resembling that of C. amazona, but less 
powerful. 
This Kingfisher was found by White at Cosquin, 
where it is usually met with along the acequias, or 
canals made for the purpose of irrigating the culti- 
vated lands. These canals are in places bordered ~ 
with brushwood and trees, and are tolerably deep, 
with a swiftly flowing current, and abound in small 
fishes, so that this bird seems to prefer them as 
hunting-grounds to the rocky river-bed. 
In Entrerios Mr. Barrows tells us this Kingfisher 
is not uncommon along the Lower Uruguay, and 
sometimes ascends the smaller streams a short distance. 
It is much more easily approached than C, torquata. 
