[ Fam. XXIV. ALCEDINIDÆ, or KINGFISHERS.]
The Kingfishers, which form the subject of an excellent illustrated Monograph by Mr. Sharpe[1], are but feebly represented in the New World. Out of the many varied generic forms which make up the family, only a single genus, with about eight species, is met with in the whole of the American Continent. This genus (Ceryle) is of wide diffusion, having also representatives in Africa and Asia. There is thus a great contrast with the Old World, where at least 120 species of Kingfishers are met with.
[1] A Monograph of the Alcedinidæ, or Family of Kingfishers. By R. B. Sharpe. London, 1868-71.
[261.] CERYLE TORQUATA (Linn.).
(RINGED KINGFISHER.)
Ceryle torquata, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 103; Barrows, Auk 1884, p. 26 (Entrerios); Sharpe, Mon. Alc. pl. xxii. p. 73; Withington, Ibis, 1888, p. 468 (Lomas de Zamora). Megaceryle torquata, Burm. La-Plata Reise, ii. p. 446 (Paraná).
Description.—Above bluish grey, with narrow black shaft-stripes and some small round spots of white; wings black, with a large portion of the inner webs towards the base white, coverts like the back; tail black, crossed by white bars, central rectrices edged with bluish grey: beneath chestnut-red; throat, centre of belly, and crissum white: whole length 15·0 inches, wings 7·7, tail 5·5. Female similar, but with a broad bluish-grey pectoral band.
Hab. Central and South America.
This beautiful bird, the largest of the American Kingfishers, is found throughout the greater portion of South and Central America. In the Argentine Republic it is somewhat rare, though widely distributed, and ranging as far south as Buenos Ayres. Dr. Döring mentions Ceryle torquata amongst the species collected by him on the Rio Negro, in Patagonia; but it is possible that the closely allied C. stellata is meant, as this form represents the larger and more brightly-coloured bird in the Magellanic district.
Notwithstanding its wide distribution and great beauty, little has been recorded of the habits of this species. In Amazonia, Bartlett says:—“It breeds in company with Ceryle amazona. The nest, however, is placed very much deeper in the bank than in the case of the last-named bird, the hole being from 4 to 6 feet in depth, with a chamber at the end sufficiently large for the young birds when nearly full-grown.”