DR. GAMBEL ON THE BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA. 229 



top of head from the bill, pure black, extending into an ample flowing crest as in the 

 former species. 



The representative of this species in the old world is the S. affinis, Riippell, but 

 it differs from that species in nearly the same respects as S. regia does from 

 •S. velox. 



I procured this species on the Pacific coast of Mexico, particularly at Mazatlan at 

 the mouth of the Gulf of California, It is exceedingly delicate in its plumage, and 

 graceful in its mode of flight. I found them congregated in numbers on the sandy 

 shoals of the Bay in the month of April, uttering as they flew a grating Kingfisher- 

 like note. 



