Ceryle alcyon.
1640
The genus Ceryle was established by Boie on the Alcedo rudis, of Linnæus, an African species. Modern systematists separate the American Kingfishers from those of the Old World, and if correct in so doing, another generic name must be selected for the former. If the two American sections be combined into one, Chloroceryle of Kaup (type, Alcedo amazona) must be taken as being the older, unless, indeed, Ispida of Swainson (1837) be admissible. This appears to have been based on Alcedo alcyon, although including also some Old World species.
Ceryle alcyon, Boie.
BELTED KINGFISHER.
Alcedo alcyon, Linnæus, Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 180.—Wilson, Am. Orn. III, 1811, 59.—Audubon, Orn. Biog. I, 1831, 384, pl. lxxvii.—Ib. Birds America.—Max. Cab. J. VI, 1858, 102. Ceryle alcyon, Boie, Isis, 1828, 316.—Brewer, N. Am. Oology, I, 1857, 110, pl. iv, fig. 52 (egg).—Wood, Am. Naturalist, 1868, 379 (nesting).—Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 158.—Cooper & Suckley, 167.—Dall & Bannister, Ch. Ac. I, i, 1869, 275 (Alaska).—Finsch, Abh. Nat. III, 1872, 29 (Alaska).—Samuels, 125.—Cooper, Orn. Cal. 1, 1870, 337.—Allen, B. Fla. 300. Megaceryle alcyon, Reichenb. Handb. Sp. Orn. I, II, 1851, 25, pl. ccccxii, fig. 3108-9. Ispida ludoviciana, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 452. “Alcedo jaguacate, Dumont, Dict. Sc. Nat. I, 1816, 455” (Cassin). “Alcedo guacu, Vieillot, Nouv. Dict. XIX, 1818, 406,” (Cassin). Streptoceryle alcyon, Cabanis, Mus. Hein. II, 151.
Sp. Char. Head with a long crest. Above ashy-blue, without metallic lustre. Beneath, with a concealed band across the occiput, and a spot anterior to the eye, pure white. A band across the breast, and the sides of the body under the wings, like the back.
PLATE XLV.