THE BELTED KINGFISHER. 39 



bated ones this gloss is less noticeable. They are generally sliort ovato and 

 sometimes rounded ovate in shape. 



The average measurement of eighty-seven eggs in the United States 

 National Museum collection is 34.04 by 26.67 millimetres, or 1.34 by 1.05 

 inches. The largest egg of the series measures 37.08 by 27.94 millimetres, or 

 1.46 by 1.10 inches; the smallest, 30.78 by 26.42 millimetres, or 1.21 by 1.04 

 inches. 



The type specimen, No. 20467 (PI. 1, Fig. 3), from a set of six eggs, Ben- 

 dire collection, was taken by the writer near Fort Lapwai, Idaho, on May 11, 

 1870, and represents about an average-sized egg. 



13. Ceryle americana septentrionalis Sharpe. 



TEXAN KINGFISHER. 



Alcedo oahanisi Tschudi, Fauna Peruana, Ornitbologie, 1844, 253. 



Ceryle americana septentrionalis Sharpe, Catalogue of Birds, British Museum, XVII, 

 1892, 134. 



(B 118, G 287, E 383, C 424, U 391.) 



Geographical range : From the Isthmus of Panama north through Central America, 

 to northern Mexico, Chihuahua, and southwestern Texas. 



The Texan Kingfisher, the smallest representative of the Alcedinidce found 

 in the United States, is not nearly as well known as the Belted Kingfisher, and 

 its breeding range is confined to a comparatively small portion of western Texas, 

 while even here it appears to be of rather irregular occurrence. It is reported 

 as fairly abundant along a number of the tributaries of the Guadalupe River, 

 in Comal County, also on some of the streams in Bexar and Edwards counties, 

 and thence westward along the various tributaries to the Rio Grande, like Devils 

 River, etc. Dr. Edgar A. Mearns, United States Army, met with it in Kenney 

 County, at Fort Clark, at Strickland's Springs, and Las Moras Creek, and it 

 seems to be present on nearly every creek or stream whose waters are suffi- 

 ciently clear to enable it to make a living. It is not found regularly along the 

 shores of muddy streams, such as the lower Rio Grande and Nueces rivers and 

 others in southwestern Texas, and its presence seems to depend almost entirely 

 on the clearness of the water. It reaches the northern limits of its range in 

 Texas, as far as known, in about latitude 30°, but in northern Mexico it ranges 

 at least a degree farther north. Dr. Eldgar A. Mearns, United States Army, 

 while on duty with the International Boundary Survey, obtained a specimen at 

 Pajon Bonito, Chihuahua, September 8, 1893, 10 miles southeast of monument 

 66, close to the Arizona line, which is the most northern record known to me. 

 It appears to be a constant resident in southwestern Texas, and breeds wherever 

 found. 



Its general habits, food, and breeding habits are similar to those of the 

 Belted Kingfisher. Mr. W. Brewster described the first authentic eggs of this 

 species taken within om- borders, in the "Bulletin of the Nuttall Ornithological 

 Club" (Vol. 4, 1879, pp. 79, 80). He says: "This beautiful little Kingfisher was 



