On some Species of the Ramphastidce, ■ 467 



nuda miniacea^ fascia pectoraU crisso uropi/gioque coccineis; 

 rostro nigt^Oy bast sulphureo-fasciato^ culmine basi cceruleo. 



Rostrum taenia nigra gracili ad basin marginatum; deinde fascia 

 lata sulphured, in mandibuld inferiore latiore, in superiore prope 

 culmen strictiore, instructum ; culmine ad basin striga longitudi- 

 iiali triangulari ca;rule^ notato ; tomns irregulariter leviterque 

 serratis. Fascia pectoralis unciaj circiter latitudinem obtinet. 

 Pedes caerulei, unguibus nigris. Irides caeruleaj. Longitudo cor- 

 porisy 1 8 ; alee a carpo ad remigem 4*'""5 7 ^ ; caudce^ 7 ^ ; rostri, 

 3^C; tarsi, 2^, 



The following are the species hitherto described of the genus 

 RamphastoSy Auct. from authentick sources. The ground colour 

 of all, it is to be observed, is deep jet black. 



1. R. Toco. Gmel. — This appears to be a well known and well 

 defined species. It has been figured by Dr. Latham in his " Synop- 

 sis," [pi. 9. Ed. r% and pi. 29. Ed. 2*".] and in the 8th No. of the 

 ^' Planches Eiiluminees."* The bill seems larger in proportion 

 than that of any other species of the genus : it is yellowish white, 

 at least in the dead bird, with a black apex to the upper mandi- 

 ble : a narrow black streak is found at the basal margin of both 

 mandibles ; a mark, which although subject to variation as to 

 breadth, seems to be common to all the species. The cheeks and 

 throat together with the upper tail coverts are white; and a 

 slender scarlet band extends round the margin of the throat. The 

 under tail coverts are scarlet. There is some variation respecting 

 the scarlet band round the throat. A specimen now before me 

 does not possess it, but a few of the lower feathers of the throat 

 are slightly tinged with scarlet. In other specimens I have seen 

 more or less extent to these scarlet markings, which, as far as I 

 could form an opinion, appeared to depend upon the age of the 

 bird. In the specimens which I have examined, the serration of 

 the bill is faint and irregular, as in most of the species of this 

 genus. 



* Dr. Latham refers to M. Le Vaillant's plates 7 and 8 as belonging to this 

 species. They represent R. vitellinus, 111. [See Swains. Zoo). Illust. pi. 36.] 

 R. Toco, Linn, is figured by M. Le Vaillant in the first plate of his work. 



2 G 2 



