RAMPHASTUS. 455 



this bird is common tliiougliout British Guiana. C)nlv rare near 

 the coast, and especially common in (lense woods. Its food consists 

 of fruits; when it has satisfied its hunoer it rests on the topmost 

 branches of tall trees and at intervals utters its whistlinof note. It 

 appears to live chiefly in pairs, but sometimes small companies were 

 seen, especially on a tree full of ripe fruit. It builds its nest in 

 holes in trees and lays two white eggs. It is often kept as a pet 

 by the natives {cfr. vol. ii. p. 390). When hopping on the ground 

 it appears similar to the European Magpie. Schomburgk also 

 states that neither in confinement nor in free life had he seen it 

 throw its food into the air and catch it again. It is very much 

 hunted by the Indians for its beautiful plumage [cfr. vol. i. 

 p. 403). Its flesh is edible. It often makes a rattling noise with 

 its bill and bites anyone who may be near it at the time. It is 

 also reg.'irded as a sure weather prophet by the natives. The 

 " Warraus " call it Ahaeslinu and the " Macusis ^' Cii>/akeh. 



Mr. J. J. Quelch remarks (Timehri (2) ii. p. 3G5) that the 

 common red-billed species (i?. erythrorhi/nchus) occurs on the 

 Abary River. It is, however, very shy and was difficult to obtain. 



Mr. Beebe writes as follows (Our Search for a "Wilderness, 

 p, 174) : — •' The notes of the Red-billed Toucans are like the yap- 

 ping of a puppy, uttered in pairs and differing slightly, thus, 

 ' y^P • y^P ■ y^P • y'P • ' '^^^ great mandibles are opened and 

 thrown upward at each utterance.^' 



He also writes {op. cit. p. 326) : — " The colouring of their beaks 

 was wonderfully brilliant and variegated. Their notes were of 

 the Robin-song type, ' |)heopha ' I although the resemblance to 

 the puppy's voice was also strong. They had been feeding on 

 seeds with a pinkish pul[) which Francis called suluwafaddy.'^ 



311. Ramphastus osculans. 



Osculant Toucax. 



RamjihastoH osculans Gould, P. Z. S. 1885, p. loG (Brazil); Cab. in 

 Schomb. Keis. Guian. iii. p. 728, 1848 ; Salvin, Ibis, ISSG, p. G-3 ; 

 Sclater, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xix. p. 181, 1891 (British Guiana); 

 Bnibourne & Chubb, B. S. Amer. i. p. 15G, no. 1-382, 1912. 



Adult. Oown of head, hind-neck, and mantle velvety-black ; 

 back, wings, and tail glossy black ; upper tail-coverts lemon- 

 Vidlow. whilish at tlu; liaso and orange at the tijx : cheeks, side-j 

 of neck. an<I throat white ; lower ihi"oat urange-vdlow ; brca-^l 



