(LITTLE KINGFISHER.)
+Ceryle americana+, _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 103; _Durnford,
Ibis_, 1877, p. 185 (Buenos Ayres); _Salvin, Ibis_, 1880, p. 361
(Salta); _Barrows, Auk_, 1884, p. 26 (Entrerios); _Sharpe, Mon.
Alc._ pl. xxvi. p. 89. +Chloroceryle americana+, _Burm. La-Plata
Reise_, ii. p. 447 (Paraná).
_Description._--Above bronzy green; line along sides of head and
neck-collar white; wings spotted with white; tail above green,
beneath blackish, barred with white on the inner webs; throat
white; breast chestnut-red; belly and crissum white, flanks with
bronzy-green spots; bill and feet black: whole length 7·0 inches,
wing 3·1, tail 2·5. _Female_ similar, but no chestnut on the breast,
which is crossed by a bronzy-green band.
_Hab._ South America.
This is the smallest of our three Kingfishers, and nearly resembles _C.
amazona_ in plumage. Durnford found it "not uncommon" about the creeks
and streams at the mouth of the Paraná, and also obtained specimens in
the north of the Republic near Salta, during his last journey. Prof.
Burmeister met with it at Paraná and Tucuman.