396 NOimi AMKKICAN Jil^DS. 



Ceryle americana, \ar. cabanisi, Tschudi. 



TEXAS KINGFISHEB; GBEEK KINOFISHEB. 



Alccdo aiiierkami, (i.MKl.lN, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 451 (in jiait). (Jcryh anurkcnm, Law- 

 KKNLK, Annuls N. Y. Lyccuni, A', 1851, 118 (first introduction into tlie fauna of 

 United Status). — t'A.ssiN, Illustrations, 1,1855, 255. — BliKWKl!, N. Am. Oology, I, 

 1857, 3, pi. iv, f. 53 (i"^). — Haiuu, Hirds N. Am. 1858, 159, pi. xlv. — In. Me.x. 

 B. II ; Birds 7, pi. vii. — Cooricit, Orn. Cul. I, 1870, 339. Alccdo viridis, Vieillot, 

 Nouv. Diet. XIX, 1818, 413 (C.v.s.sin). Ccnjle aibtmisi, Kkr'ue.nb. Ilandb. sp. Orn. 

 I, 27. — Caban. Mus. Ileiii. II, 147. Alccdo aibanisi, Tsoiiuui. 



Sp. Chau. Head slightly crested. Lrp])er partti, together with a pectoral and abdominal 

 band of blotches, glos.sy green, as also a line on each side the throat. Under parts 

 generally, a collar on the back of the neck, and a double series of spots on the quills, 

 white. Female with a broad band of chestnut across the breast, Yowuj of both sexes 

 similar to the adult, but white beneath tinged with buff, and mark! ig on breast more 

 obsolete. Length about 8.00 ; wing, 3. 14. 



Hah. Rio Grande region of Texas and southward. Localities : Honduras (Scr,. P. 

 Z. S. 1858, 358) ; Bogota (Sci.. P. Z. S. 1853, 130) : Cordova (Scl. P. Z. S. 1850, 280) ; 

 Guatemala (Sn.. Iliis. T, 1,31) ; Honduras (Ibis, IL 1 17) ; S. E. Texas (Duesskr, Ibis, 1865, 

 472, breeds) ; C(jlorado River (Coues P. A. N. S. 1806, 59) ; Costa Rica (Lawr. N. Y. 

 Lye. IX, 118). 



This sjK'cies is much smaller than the Northern or Belted Kingfisher, and 

 is easily distiii<;uishable by the diagnostic marks already given. The sexes 

 apjiear to diHor, like tliose of C. alcijoii, namely, the female being distin- 

 guished by a I'lifous pectoral band, which is wanting in the male 



Tschudi and Caljanis separate the northern from the more southern bird 

 under the name of C. cahomi ; Tschudi retaining the name of C. americana 

 for specimens resident in eastern South America. The differences are 

 said to consist in the larger size, longer bill, greater extension of the white 

 of the throat, and the decided sjjotting on the wing-coverts and quills of 

 cahanisi. Though those difl'erences are readily appreciable, they correspond 

 so entirely M'ith natural laws, distinguishing northern and southern in- 

 dividuals of most resident sj)ecies, that it is only fair to consider them as 

 merely modifications of a single species. 



Several other s])ecies of Ch/oroccri/le proper are found in Tropical America. 



Habits. So far as is certainly known, this species is only found witliin 

 our fauna as a bird of Texas, where it is occasional, rather than common, and 

 confined to its western limits. From information received, I am confident 

 that it will yet become known as at least of rare occurrence in Southern 

 Florida, and possiI)ly ahmg the whole gulf coast. It was first noticed as a 

 bird of the United States by Captain McCown, and added to our list by 

 Mr. Lawrence, in 1851. It has since then been occasionally taken near the 

 liio Grande and in all the northeastern portions of Mexico. It is said to 

 be found nearly throughout Mexico, and to be abundant also in Central 

 America. 



