KINGFISHERS 



(391) Ceryle americana sep- 

 tentrionalis Sharpe 



(Lat., northern, only so relative to the 

 original tropical species). 



TEXAS KINGFISHER. A 

 }iandsome little species with glossy 

 greenish back and crest. Ad. cf — 

 As shown; with broad chestnut 

 breast band. The 9 lacks the 

 chestnut, but has a band of green 

 across the breast, and more metallic 

 spots below. L., 7.50; W., 3.50; 

 T., 2.75; B., 1.80. Eggs — Four to 

 six, glossy white, .95 x .70; laid in 

 holes in banks. 



Range — Southern Te.xas. 

 (390.1) Ceryle torquata (Linn.) 



RINGED KINGFISHER. A 

 large Jlexican species; casual in 

 southern Te.xas. Colored nearly the 

 same as our comnion kingfisher. 



are always ended about so as to be swallowed head first; 

 less often they may be tossed in the air and caught head first 

 as they come down. Alost of their food consists of the 

 smaller, slow-moving fish of little value, but they are capable 

 of doing damage if allowed to fish at hatcheries. 



Instead of plunging directly from their perch, they often 

 rise and hover over their prey for an instant before the 

 plunge; especially is this the case if a fish is seen at some 

 little distance from the lookout. Besides fish, they feed 

 upon frogs, crayfish, grasshoppers, crickets, etc. 



Their nest is located in an enlarged chamber at the end 

 of a tunnel in the side of a bank. This tunnel varies in 

 length from four to six feet and is usually about two feet 

 from the upper edge of the bank. It is dug by the king- 

 fisher, whose feet are specially built for the purpose, the outer 

 toes being joined together to make a broader shovel. Some- 

 times the chamber is lined with a few grasses, or a bed of fish 

 bones and scales may be made, upon which the half dozen or 

 so \'ery glossy, white eggs are laid. The little kingfishers, 



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