470 Mr. Vigors's Sketches in Ornithology. 



of a perfect bill in his own possession. He also states in addition 

 to this testimony that he possesses '^ an original sketch in oil of 

 another individual, by an unknown artist, with a note stating it 

 was done from the life at Exeter Change." 



From Messrs. Edwards and Swainson's figures and descriptions 

 of this bird, it appears to have a white uropi/gium, and a narrow 

 pectoral bar of scarlet with under tail coverts of the same colour. 

 " The bill," in Mr. Edwards' own words, " is very great in pro- 

 portion, compressed sideways, having a sharp ridge along its 

 upper part ; — the upper mandible is green, with a long triangular 

 spot * of orange colour on each side, and the ridge on the upper 

 part yellow ; the lower mandible is blue, with a shade of green 

 in the middle, the point is red : it hath about five transverse faint 

 dusky bars, which cross the joinings of the two mandibles." 



Although Linnaeus referred to this bird of Mr. Edwards as iden- 

 tical with his R, dicolorusy both M. Gmelin and Dr. Latham have 

 introduced it as belonging to another species of that authour, his 

 R. tucanus. This errour appears still greater, when we find that 

 Linnasus not only did not quote this 329th Plate of Mr. Edwards 

 under the head of his R, tucanus^ but actually quoted for that 

 species a totally different figure of that authour, the figure repre- 

 sented in his 238th plate. This misquotation of Linnaeus's re- 

 ferences has caused considerable confusion, as many naturalists 



♦ Dr. Latham, in describing the bill of this bird after Mr. Edwards, says 

 that it has " the upper mandible green, with three long, triangular spots of 

 orange on each side." [Syn. Vol. I. p. 326. Ed. l">=^--Vol. II. p. 283. 2'i».3 

 He refers the figure to JR. tucanus, Linn. 



In noticing and endeavouring to rectify these and similiar incidental errours 

 which occasionally appear in the writings of some of our best Ornithologists, 

 I hope I may not be suspected of wishing to impeach their general accuracy 

 or acumen. In a subject so beset with intricacy and difficulties as is the colla- 

 tion of synonyms, and the identification of species, more particularly in this 

 country, where so little assistance is afforded the Naturalist, in extensive na- 

 tional collections or libraries of reference, it is almost impossible to steer clear 

 of errours of this description. 1 think it necessary to mention such venial 

 errata, wherever I detect them, assuming the office which the authours them- 

 selves would undertake had they similar opportunities for correction. And 1 

 hope that my own mistakes may meet with equal candour and pardon in 

 return : — hanc veniam petimusque damusque vicissim. 



