490 C U R U C U I. 



inches and a quarter in length ; the three outer ones fhorten by 

 degrees, the outmoftones being fhorter than the middle ones by two 

 inches ; thefe are ftriated with white on the outer edge,, andtipped. 

 with the fame : the legs and claws deep alh-colour,- 

 Placb. Inhabits Cayenne, Guiana, &c. 



RUFOUS Couroucou a queue rouffe de Cayenne, El. tnl. 736. — Buf. oif. vi. 293-. 



C. 

 Pl. XXI. '"T^HE length of this bird is nine inches. The general colour 



Description. rufous : the belly, thighs, and vent, yellow : the wing 



coverts are ftriated with black and grey, and the quills are black, 

 with duflcy edges: fix of the middle tail feathers are of equal 

 length, of a rufous colour, with black tips ; the three outer ohes- 

 tranfverfely ftriated black and white, and tipped with white;, 

 fhortening by degrees as in the others : the belly and legs duflcy. 

 p LACg# Inhabits Cayenne. 



Linnaus has mentioned the firft and third of the fourlaft men- 

 tioned, as diftinct fpecies ; and die fecond, or that with a white 

 belly, as a doubtful, variety ;. but Buffonfeems to think that the 

 whole of the laft mentioned are mere varieties, from age, fex,. or 

 other caufesj and that they do not gain their green-gold plumage 

 till mature age* : it is moft likely,, therefore, that the inter- 

 mediate ftages, in-which the colours appear fo different, has been 

 the caufe of multiplying the fpecies, and muft continue to render 

 the circumftance doubtful, till time, and more accurate obfer- 

 vations, Ihall a/certain the faclr. 



• The difference in plumage between young and old birds, I can readily be- 

 lieve ; fince even the old ones, which I have feen, differ much from one another. 

 In a collection which came from Cayenne, I obferved a young bird, in full feather, 

 which was wholly, of a brown colour, with only here andtherea trace of gold-green. 



Le 



OdSBRV ATION. 



