﻿of the white spots on the wing- feathers. Its geographical range is confined to the southern 

 portion of the United States, the whole of Central America, and the western portion of 

 South America, the southernmost locality yet recorded being the Tambo Valley, Peru, 

 whence specimens have been lately sent by Mr. H. Whitely, junr., a young and energetic 

 naturalist, who is at present engaged in exploring that part of the country. 



Through the kindness of Dr. P. L. Sclater, I have had free access to his collection, 

 and have therefore been able to examine the specimens mentioned in his catalogue, while 

 Mr. Salvin has placed at my service the whole of his fine series of American Kingfishers, 

 thus enabling me to verify the correctness of the geographical distribution of this species 

 by an actual examination of specimens from most of the above-mentioned localities. 

 Mr. Dresser also very kindly lent me the specimens collected by him in Texas ; and there 

 is no doubt but that they are referable to the present bird. Some difficulty may be 

 experienced in determining the species from young examples, as I think all Kingfishers 

 are a long time gaining their fully adult size and plumage. The length of the wing is the 

 best guide, I think, but old birds are easily distinguished by their larger and more 

 robust size. 



As the type of the present species came from Peru, I have thought it best to figure a 

 pair from that country. The birds in the accompanying plate are drawn from two very 

 fine specimens procured on the 10th of October, 1867, in the Tambo Valley, by 

 Mr. H. Whitely, junr. The description and measurements are also taken from these 

 birds, which are both in my own collection. 



