﻿the secondaries ; tail-feathers bronzy-green above, blackish beneath, the inner web of all but 

 the middle ones, spotted with white ; a line of feathers from the base of the bill extending 

 on to the sides of the neck, bronzy-green ; throat white ; a broad band across the chest 

 bright rufous ; abdomen and under wing- and tail-coverts white, the flanks streaked with 

 bronzy-green; bill and feet black; eye nearly black. Total length 12 inches, of bill from 

 front 2.5, from gape 3.5, wing 5.0, tail 3.0, tarsus 0,25, middle toe 0.6, hind toe 0.3. 



Female. Similar to the male, but wanting the red chest-band, which is supplied by 

 an interrupted band of bronzy-green. 



Hub. Central America: Mexico, {Mils. Philad.), Honduras, Onioa (Leylarul), Guatemala, Vera Paz, 

 Rio Samala, San Geronimo (Salvi7l), Mosquitia (Wickh(im), Yeragua, Panama (Mc'Leannail), Santiago 

 (Salvia), R. Nercua (Jfifhle/'). Guiana: British Guiana (Sc/lOmbu>'(/k), Surinam (MtJLS. P/lilad.) Cayenne 



[Mws. P. L. Sclater), New Grenada, Bogota (Mm. P. L. Sclater). Trinidad (Leotaud). Amazonia: 



Para, R. Tocantins (Wallace), Pebas (HaUXWeU), Lower Ucayali River (E. Bai'tlett). Brazil (Mad'.). 

 Sapitiba, Marambaya, Matto-dentro, Ypanema, Paranagua, Ytarar£, Irisanga, Goiaz (Naitever), Novo Fribourgo (Mus. 



0. Salvia), Parana, (Burmeuter) . La Plata: Tucuman (Bunaeister). Peru (Tschudi). 



This is the largest of the white-bellied section of the American green-backed Kingfishers 

 and is a beautiful species. It is a very common bird in South America, being particularly- 

 abundant in Brazil, where it was observed by Prince Maximilian, who published the follow- 

 ing note on its habits : — 



" This handsome Kingfisher was observed in most parts of the province visited by 

 me, being, however, nowhere so plentiful as in the southern portion, at Cabo Frio, Marica, 

 Sagoarema, and the lakes of Araruama, Ponta Negra, Lagoa Feia, &c, especially in those 

 parts of the country where there are lakes in which water-plants grow. Here it sits on an 

 isolated branch above the water, often in the thick shade of overhanging bushes and trees, 

 and watches for its prey. It often moves its tail up and down when perching, and then 

 afterwards plunges into the water. Its nest is found in the hole of a bank. It flies 

 quickly, and close to the ground, and is rather shy. In general character and external 

 form it exhibits considerable analogy with Ceryle americana, which seems to be its smaller 

 prototype. In both these species the note is the same, and the size is the only difference." 



I am indebted to Mr. Edward Bartlett for the accompanying notice of the habits 

 of the present species as observed by him during his recent expedition to the Peruvian 

 Amazons. 



" Ceryle aaiazonia is found throughout the whole of the Amazon Region, breeding in 

 considerable numbers on the steep banks of the rivers. This species is generally observed 

 in the company of Ceryle torquata and on the approach of any intruder they fly up in num- 

 bers and keep up a loud and disagreeable chorus. The nest is generally placed in an 

 extremely deep hole in a flat-faced bank, whence it is very difficult to obtain the eggs, which 

 are four in number, of a pure white colour. The nest is composed of fish-bones and a few 

 sticks, and the young remain in the nest until they are able to fly and provide for them- 

 selves. Legs and feet black ; iridee nearly black with a slight tinge of grey-brown." 



In Trinidad, according to Leotaud, it is seldom seen, for he states that: — " This 

 Kingfisher, very rare here, frequents the rivers at a distance from the salt waters." 



