^^I'm''] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 511 



considerable distance away, just before dusk, uttering their loud 

 single "chuck "at every few beats of the wings. They appeared to 

 come from their feeding grounds, often passing over the plantation 

 opposite, probably to cut off a bend in the river. One of the birds 

 invariably passed close to the corner of the laborers' quarters, though 

 at a considerable height, and tlie other near a trumpet tree some dis- 

 tance away. The third bird was only a casual visitor. At times the 

 birds came together, but usually there was an interval of several 

 minutes. Their routes met at a turn of the creek a few rods back of 

 the house, where they usually sounded their rattling notes and dropi)ed 

 down close to the water, which they followed to the roost. This was 

 in a huge spreading tree, covered with parasitic plants and numerous 

 vines, which hung in loops and fe-stoons from the limbs. On one occa- 

 sion I shot atone of the birds as it came clucking overhead, and caused 

 it to drop several small fish. A female nearly ready to deposit eggs 

 was shot Octobei* 9. 



The birds made their appearance rather late in the morning, usually 

 after 8 o'clock, and at times spent several hours of the day up there. 

 Although the birds appeared to have their home at this place, I did 

 not, on any of my numerous trips up the creek, discover the site. 



According to my observations the Kingfishers on theEscondido rank 

 about as follows in regard to abundance : Ceryle amazona, C. torquata, C. 

 americdna sepfentrionalis, C. inda, C. aJcyon, and C. supercilio.sa stictoptera. 

 The first two may be found at all times, the third is rather less common, 

 while the last three are quite uncommon, the smallest particularly so. 

 €. torqnata, C. amazona, and G. alci/on have notes very much alike; the 

 ]iotes of the others are weak, varying in volume according to the size 

 of the sjjecies, and are quite different from those of the large species. 



On the Eio Frio, where the solitude is unbroken by river stteamers, 

 and rarely by the native dories, birds inhabiting the water's edge are 

 abundant, and among the smaller species Ceryle torquata and G. amazona 

 are conspicuous. 



160. Ceryle amazona (^Lath.). 



Abundant. The note is almost the same as that of G. a Icy on, but 

 this bird has in addition a curious laughing note, which I have not 

 heard from any of the other species. 



161. Ceryle alcyon (Linn.). 

 Uncommon ; observed on both rivers. 



162. Ceryle americana septentrionalis Sharpc. 



Kather common. Feeds largely on small crustaceans. The note is 

 a weak ''tuck." 



163. Ceryle superciliosa stictoptera Ritlffw. 



Rarest of the Kingtishers in this regicm. Noted on both the Rio 

 Frio and the Escondido. 



