R A M P H A S T O S vitellinus. 

 Sidphir-and-ii'hite-hreasted Toucan . 



Generic Charactek. — See PI. 45. 



Specific Character. 



R.niger, gida flavo-aurantia ; lateribus aurihusque albis ; fascia pectorali ffg- 

 minibusque rubris ; rostro nigroj'ascia basali caruled, cidmine subcurvuLo 

 convexo, lateribus incrassatis. 



Black ; throat yellowish-orange ; the sides and ears white ; pectoral bar 

 and tail-cuvers red; bill black, with a blue basal belt, the top convex 

 and but slightly curved, the sides thickened. 



R. vitellinus. Illiger 



Le Pignancoin. Vuill. pi. 7. 



Vcir. i Le Grand Toucan a ventre rouge. Vaill. pi. 6. 



The descriptions of Dr. Latham, arid the compilations of 

 Dr. Shaw on the various species of Toucans, are so confused, and 

 their synonyms so inaccurate, that it is quite impossible to quote 

 them in reference to this bird ; but which I am informed has 

 already been distinguished by the celebrated Illiger as a distinct 

 species, under the name here adopted. 



Independent of colour, this differs from R. Tucanus in having 

 the bill less curved, the top convex and obscure pink, not Hat 

 and blue. The belt at the base is always vivid blue (grey in the 

 dead bird), not, as in R. Tucanus, of a rich yellow. This I 

 have never met with in Brazil ; the other is common from lat. 8 

 to £3° S. A dra\ving from the live bird by the late Sydenham 

 Edwards (obligingly lent me by Lord Stanley) confirms others I 

 have seen as to the colour of the bill, orbits, &c. It varies, how- 

 ever, in that of the throat, breadth of the red band, and in the 

 tail-covers. A specimen I possess being somewhat larger, the 

 breast is nearly white, and the upper tail-covers sulphur. In 

 young birds the white on the sides is tinged with grey. I am 

 inclined to consider the Grand Toucan a voitre rouge of Vaillant 

 as a mere variety, having the red pectoral bar very broad. 



In general size it is rather larger than the Brazilian Toucan. 

 Our figure is on the exact scale of four-tenths to an inch. Its 

 precise locality I am unacquainted widi. We hope to enlarge 

 more on this interesting genus in another publication. 

 PI. 56. 



