Volume I Part 19 (1/2)

Green Aracari, beneath paler; throat whitish, round the orbits blue; bill with two lateral longitudinal grooves.

P. sulcatus. _Swainson, in Journal of Royal Inst.i.tution, vol._ 9. _p._ 267.

All those species of the Linnaean Toucans having a long wedge-shaped tail, and the nostrils pa.s.sing through the upper part of the bill, are comprehended by Illiger and other continental writers under this genus.

They have been called by the French Aracari; which name I have retained as an English generic distinction. They inhabit the same country and situations as the real Toucans, which are distinguished by having a short, broad, and even tail, and the nostrils placed behind the bill.

A fine example of this very rare bird I first met with in the small collection sent to my excellent friend, E. Falkener, Esq. from the Spanish Main. I have since noticed another which was in Mr. Bullock's museum, and is now in the possession of Lord Stanley: these are the only two specimens known.

This bird was first described by me in the Journal of the Royal Inst.i.tution near a year ago. When Professor Temminck was in England, I showed him the ma.n.u.script description and drawing which I had then made: he a.s.sured me he had never seen the bird before, otherwise than in Bullock's museum. A short time after, my account of it was published. I observe, however, that in the new edition of his Manuel he gives this name to a new bird of his own: no description however follows, and it is therefore impossible to say if the Professor intends it for this identical species.

We must postpone any further observations on this family, and conclude by giving the original description above alluded to.

Total length twelve inches, of which the bill in extreme length measures three. It is much curved, and more attenuated than any of the Aracaris, being thickest at the base; from which it narrows to a sharp point at the tip. The upper part is convex, and somewhat thickened; the sides are compressed, and the upper mandible has two broad slightly indented grooves on each side: the base has a few transverse wrinkles, and the serratures deep and unequal. The lower mandible half the depth of the upper, the sides concave, and the teeth less. The colour (in the dried bird) black; the base of the lower and the upper half of the superior mandible rufous, the base with a whitish marginal line. The nostrils are more lateral than usual, being placed in a line with the eye; the orbits naked and reddish brown, the feathers encircling which (particularly beneath the eye) are vivid cerulean blue. The whole upper plumage is parrot green, paler beneath, with a gloss of golden yellow on the cheeks and sides: throat dusky white. Wings short, five inches long, and rounded; inner shafts of the quills black, margined with whiteish. Tail cuneated, green, four inches and a half long, the four middle feathers equal. Legs dusky black.

Pl. 45

[Ill.u.s.tration]

RAMPHASTOS carinatus,

_Sharp-billed Toucan._

GENERIC CHARACTER.

_Rostrum capite longius, maximum, cra.s.sum, inane, cultratum, basali margine incra.s.satum; maxillae angulo frontali subtruncato transverso: Nares verticales, pone maxillae basin sitae; tomia serrata; lingua angusta, pennacea; cauda brevis, aequalis; pedes scansorii._ Illiger.

Prod, p. 212.

Typus Genericus _R. erythrorynchus_ Lath.

Bill very large, longer than the head, thick, light, curved, and thickened at the basal margin; the frontal angle transversely sub-truncated, margins serrated. Nostrils vertical, behind the base of the bill. Tongue slender, long, and feathered. Tail short, even. Feet scansorial.

Generic Type _Red-billed Toucan_ Lath.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

_R. niger; gula flava; fascia pectorale tegminibusque inferioribus rubris; rostro viridi, apice rubro; mandibula superiore culmine carinato flavo, lateribus macula aurantia; inferiore caeruleo variegata._

Black; throat yellow; pectoral bar and under tail covers red; bill green, tip red; upper mandible carinated and yellow above, the sides with an orange spot; lower mandible varied with blue.

Yellow-breasted Toucan. _Edwards, pl._ 329.