OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. 101) 



bills and bee-eaters of the Eastern Continent, and the todies 

 ;ind sawbills of America. Mr. Sharpe. a distinguished au- 

 thority, estimates about one hundred and twenty-five species 

 in nineteen genera, which are unequally distributed. The 

 genus ('cr\'/c is most nearly cosmopolitan, and is only want- 

 ing in the Australian region. The same distinguished writer 

 recogni/.es in this group but two subfamilies. DaceJoniinc 

 which embraces fourteen genera and eighty-four species 

 having the bill more or less depressed, and culmen either 

 smooth, rounded, or sulcate ; and the 



Subfamily Alcedininae. 



Bill compressed and culmen connate. The species of 

 '.his group as confined to America, are mainly piscivorous : 

 while the former subsist upon insects, land mollusks, and 

 reptiles. 



Ceryle alcyon. note. 



The Belted Kingfisher is a widely distributed North Amer- 

 ican species. It ranges from the Atlantic to the Pacific 

 Ocean, and even to the Arctic on the north. In 1857, Capt. 

 Blakiston discovered it in the lower parts of the Saskatche- 

 wan River, until Oct. 7 ; and. subsequently, at Pembina, 

 Max i. 1859. ^'- Macfarlane obtained skins from the Es- 

 quimaux on the Arctic coasts, and Dall observed it breeding 

 at Fort Yukon. Dr. Richardson met it as high north as67 

 along the large streams of fur countries. In California, a 

 larger race is said to exist, which frequents the seashore, 

 ind also ponds and streams where the waters are not muddy. 

 Mr. A. Newton gives it a winter occupant at vSt. Croix, 

 where it frequents mangrove-swamps, and says it is often 

 found more than one-half a mile at sea engaged in its favorite 

 occupation. Two specimens have been taken in Ireland as 

 recorded by Mr. Thompson. 



This species arrives in Eastern Pennsylvania early in 

 March. During moderate winters, we have observed it 



