CERYLE AMERICANA. 27 



262. CERYLE AMAZONA (Lath.). 

 (AMAZONIAN KINGFISHER.) 



Ceryle amazona, Scl. et Salo. Nomencl p. 103 ; White, P. Z. S. 1883, p. 40 

 (Cordova) ; Barrows, Auk, 1884, p. 26 (Entrerios) ; Sharpe, Man. Ale. 

 pi. xxiv. p. 83. Chloroceryle amazona, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 446 

 (Parana). 



Description. Above dark green, with a white neck-band: beneath white, 

 with a broad chestnut pectoral band ; flanks striped with green ; under surface 

 of wings white ; tail beneath slaty, with white bars on the inner webs : whole 

 length ll'O inches, wing 5'3, tail 3'4. Female without the red pectoral band, 

 which is incompletely replaced by dark green. 



Hab. South America. 



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 cultivated lands. These canals are in places bordered with brush- 

 wood 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. 



C. amazona is also found as far south as Buenos Ay res, where I have 

 always seen them singly or in pairs. Its usual cry is exceedingly loud, 

 hard, and abrupt, and so rapidly reiterated as to give it a sound resem- 

 bling 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 surpise. 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. 



263. CERYLE AMERICANA (Gm.). 

 (LITTLE KINGFISHER.) 



Ceryle americana, Scl et Salv. Nomencl. p. 103 ; Durnford, Ibis, 1877, p. 185 

 (Buenos Ayres) ; Salvin, Ibis, 1880, p. 361 (Salta); Barroivs, Auk, 1884, 

 p. 26 (Entrerios) ; Sharpe, Mm. Ale. pi. xxvi. p. 89. Chloroceryle ameri- 

 cana, Burm. La-Plata Reisc, ii. p. 447 (Parana). 



