INSESSOEES. 191 



In the bird now before us, the ear-like tufts over the eye, which are 

 to be found in several others of this genus, are very obvious, and give 

 to it an additional owl-like cha.racter. We are not aware that this 

 species has ever before been figured. 



This remarkable bird is represented in our plate above cited, of the 

 natural size. 



3. Family HALCYONIDiE.— The Kingfishers. 

 1. Genus CERYLE, Bote, Isis, 1828, p. 312. 

 1. Certle alcyon {Linn.). 



Alcedo alajon, LiNN. Syst. Nat. I, p. 180 (1766). 

 Alcedo ludoviciana, GrM. Syst. Nat. I, p. 452 (1788). 

 Alcedo jayuacati, Dumont, Diet. Sci. Nat. I, p. 455 (1816). 



Buff. PI. Enl. 593, 715 ; Wilson, Am. Orn. Ill, Phxte XXIII, fig. 

 1; Aud. B. of Am. Plate LXXVII; oct. ed. IV, Plate CCLV. 



This species was observed by the naturalists of the Expedition in 

 Oregon and California, occurring more commonly, according to Dr. 

 Pickering, in the latter country. It inhabits, therefore, the entire 

 continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, and its range of lati- 

 tude very probably embraces the whole of temperate North America, 



Dr. Pickering occasionally mentions a bird of this group which he 

 states was apparently smaller than the present species. We have also 

 had similar representations made to us by other gentlemen who had 

 visited California, but have never seen any species of kingfisher from 

 that or any other country of Western North America, except the bird 

 now before us. It is possible that it may be a species unknown to 

 naturalists, or perhaps Ceryle americana, which has been found in 

 Texas and Mexico, and is a small species. We have also seen Ceryle 

 amazona from Mexico, which is, however, but slightly smaller than 

 our present bird. 



Ceryle americana inhabits the shores of the Rio Grande, and very 

 probably the whole of Mexico, and may extend its range of locality 

 at least into Southern California. Notwithstanding, however, the 



