474 ALCEDINID^. 



it was only observed in the winter season. These southern birds, therefore, are 

 probably those that visit the far north in the breeding-season. 



We never met with a nest in Central America ; but in the Slates, according to 

 Brewer ^i, the nest is made in an excavation in the bank of a pool or stream, but not 

 necessarily in the immediate vicinity of water. The hole or tunnel excavated by the 

 bird varies from 4 to 15 feet in length, and is enlarged at the end, where six or some- 

 times seven glossy white eggs are laid. 



In its delicate grey back this species agrees with C. torquata and differs from the 

 other Central-American Kingfishers ; but in the coloration of the sexes the difference 

 between the two species is marked. The male of C. alcyon is devoid of chestnut colour 

 on the under surface, whereas in C. torquata this colour is more pronounced in the 

 male than in the opposite sex. 



2. Ceryle torquata. 



Alcedo torquata, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 180 (1766) ' ; Licht. Preis-Verz. mex. Vog. p. 1 {cf. J. f. 

 Orn. 1863, p. 55) ^ 



Ceryle torquata, Bp. P. Z. S. 1837, p. 108 ' ; Scl. P. Z. S. 1857, p. 202*; Moore, Ibis, 1859, p. 53 '; 

 Scl. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 131 ^ P Z. S. 1864, p. 363'; 1867, p. 280 ^ 1870, p. 837'; 

 Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 1860, p. 133 " ; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 290 " ; Mem. Bost. Soc. 

 N. H. ii. p. 289"; Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 4, p. 30"; v. Frantzius, J. f. Orn. 1869, 

 p. 311"; Sharpe, Mon. Alced. p. 73, t. 22"; Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xvii. p. 121"; Sumi- 

 chrast. La Nat. v. p. 239 " ; Nutting, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. v. p. 399 "; vi. pp. 375 ", 387 ", 

 394''; Ferrari-Perez, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. ix. p. 160"; Ridgw. Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. x. 

 p. 591"; Zeledon, An. Mus. Nac. Costa Rica, 1887, p. 119"; Richmond, Pr. U. S. Nat. 

 Mus. xvi. p. 510". 



Streptoceryle torquata. Cab. J. f . Orn. 1862, p. 161 '". 



Supra schistacea, plumis singulis rhacHdibus nigris, capite cristata ; capitis lateribus, alia extus et pectoris 

 lateribus dorso concoloribus ; macula infra oculos, altera supra lora, gula et torque cervicali albis ; abdomine 

 toto laete castaneo, hypocliondriis et axillaribus concoloribus, subalaribus albis, remigibus iu pogonio 

 intemo maculis albis ad marginem concurrentibus albis, tectricibus subcaudaUbus albis Bchistaceo varie- 

 gatis (interdum pure albis) ; Cauda nigra, extrorsum schistacea, pogoniis ambobus regulariter albo 

 maculatis ; rostro nigro ad basin rufescente ; pedibus flavescenti-fuscis. Long, tota circa 16'0, alas 7*5, 

 caudse 4-5, rostri a rictu 4*0, tarsi 0'6. (Descr. maris ex Lion Hill, Panama. Mus. nostr.) 



2 mari simUis, torque pectorali schistacea, subalaribus et tectricibus subcaudaUbus omnino castaneis, abdomine 

 concoloribus. 



Ilab. Mexico, Eio Grande, Nuevo Leon (F. JB. Armstrong), Tampico ( W. B. Eichardson), 

 Eeal del Monte {Mus. Brit.), Jalapa (Salle^), Paso de la Milpa^^, Vega de Alatorre 22, 

 Santa Ana, Rio Eancho Nuevo {Ferrari-Perez), Mazatlan (Grayson ^^), Presidio de 

 Mazatlan {Ferrer), San Bias ( W. B. Richardson), Tonala, Chihuitan ^^, Santa 

 Efigenia ^^ {Sumichrast), Tea[)a {Mrs. H. H. Smith) ; British Honduras, Belize 

 river {0. S.), Cayo in the western district {Blancaneaux) ; Guatemala, B,io Dulce 

 {0. S.^), Lanquin, Choctum, Huamuchal, San Jose de Guatemala (6>. S. & F. D. G.), 

 Peten {Leyland ^) ; Honduras, Omoa {Leyland ^), San Pedro ( G. M, Whitely ^), 



