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. 



