(AMAZONIAN KINGFISHER.)
+Ceryle amazona+, _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 103; _White, P. Z. S._
1883, p. 40 (Cordova); _Barrows, Auk_, 1884, p. 26 (Entrerios);
_Sharpe, Mon. Alc._ pl. xxiv. p. 83. +Chloroceryle amazona+,
_Burm. La-Plata Reise_, ii. p. 446 (Paraná).
_Description._--Above dark green, with a white neck-band: beneath
white, with a broad chestnut pectoral band; flanks striped with
green; under surface of wings white; tail beneath slaty, with white
bars on the inner webs: whole length 11·0 inches, wing 5·3, tail
3·4. _Female_ without the red pectoral band, which is incompletely
replaced by dark green.
_Hab._ South America.
This Kingfisher was found by White at Cosquin, where it is usually met
with along the _acequias_, or canals made for the purpose of irrigating
the cultivated lands. These canals are in places bordered with brushwood
and trees, and are tolerably deep, with a swiftly flowing current,
and abound in small fishes, so that this bird seems to prefer them as
hunting-grounds to the rocky river-bed.
In Entrerios Mr. Barrows tells us this Kingfisher is not uncommon along
the Lower Uruguay, and sometimes ascends the smaller streams a short
distance. It is much more easily approached than _C. torquata_.
_C. amazona_ is also found as far south as Buenos Ayres, where I have
always seen them singly or in pairs. Its usual cry is exceedingly
loud, hard, and abrupt, and so rapidly reiterated as to give it a sound
resembling that of a policeman's rattle. But this is not its only
language, and I was greatly surprised one day at hearing one _warbling_
long clear notes, somewhat flute-like in quality, as it flew from tree
to tree along the borders of a stream. It seems very strange that there
should be a melodious Kingfisher; but Mr. Barrows also heard the allied
_Ceryle americana_ sing, much to his surprise. My belief is, that the
birds of this group possess a singing faculty, but very rarely exercise
it; with _C. americana_ I am well acquainted, yet I never heard it utter
any note except its hard, rattling cry, resembling that of _C. amazona_,
but less powerful.