138 Mr. J. Graliam Kerr on the Avifauna 



[This wide-ranging species lias already been recorded from 

 Matto Grosso {H. H. Smith), but is new to the Argentine 

 avifauna. — P. L. S.] 



89. PicuMNUs piLCOMAYENsis, Hargitt, Ibis^ 1891, p. 606. 



(No. 6, Sy, 125, ? .) ^^rtin Page. June 28th, 1890. 



This tiny little Woodpecker is not uncommon in the Gran 

 Chaco^where it frequents the terminal branches of the trees, 

 both in the forest and in the open. It hops about with great 

 activity, and frequently, by striking its beak against the 

 branch with great rapidity, produces a continuous " br-r-r," 

 which is very characteristic. 



Observed frequently on the Pilcomayo, and also at Puerto 

 Bermejo (Timbo) on the Paraguay ; and on an island in the 

 Parana opposite the town of Empedrado. 



[We fear that Mr. Hargitt's name for this species may 

 have to give way to the prior claims of Picumnus azarie (Cab. 

 & Heine, Mus. Hein. iv. pt. 2, p. 20), as it is obvious that the 

 Pilcomayo bird must be the same as that of Paraguay — the 

 Carpintero enano of Azara. At the same time it is possible 

 that the type of Picumnus azarce may not be identical with 

 the Paraguay bird. — P. L. S.] 



-f-90. Ceryle torquata. {Op. cit. ii. p. 26.) 



(No. 23.) Abundant. During the height of the dry 

 season many of these Kingfishers were to be seen flying 

 high overhead, evidently on the outlook for fishing-grounds 

 not yet dried up. 



-f 91. Ceryle amazona. [Op. cit. ii. p. 27.) 



(No. 51, ? .) Abundant. On April 25th, just after sun- 

 rise, I was surprised to hear a male of this species sing. He 

 sat upon the summit of a dead branch projecting from the 

 water, his body raised up, almost vertically, and his wings 

 expanded. The song was composed of a rapid succession of 

 chirping notes somewhat like those of the common Oven-bird, 

 but more chirpy in tone. On another occasion (May 6th, 

 1890) I observed Ceryle amazona fishing in a laguna after 

 tlie manner of a Sea-GuU, i. e. its wings vibrating rapidly, so 

 that it remained almost stationary in the air over the laguna. 



