6i§ BIRDS. PIES. Motmot. 



J 6- 15. White Toucan. — 15. Ramphajlos albus. 16. 



Is entirely white. Lath. fyn. i. 336. n. 15. 



Thefe two lafl mentioned are very imperfectly known or defcribed, and are introduced by Dr 

 Gmclin on the authority of Mi- Latham, who -has omitted the White fpecies in his Index ornitho- 

 logicus. . j ' 



VII. M O T M O T.— M O MOTU S. 



The bill is ftrong, flightly incurvated, and ferrated at the 

 edges: The noftrils are covered with feathers: The tongue 

 is feathered: The tail is wedge-like: The feet are formed 

 for walking; having three toes before,' which are united al- 

 moft their whole length, but not webbed, and one behind. 



This genus is included both by Linnaeus and Dr Gmelin in the former, as a fpecies of Toucan ; 

 but it differs very elTentially from that tribe, in the ftrufture of the feet, in the lefs difproportioned 

 fize of the bill, and in its general manners and way of life ; it agrees however in the ftrufture of the 

 tongue, and in the bill being ferrated. Thefe remarkable differences have not efcaped the attention 

 of Dr Gmelin, who expreiTes a doubt that this ought to be confidered as a diftindr. genus, and, on. 

 the very refpectable authority of Mr Pennant and Mr Latham, it is here placed as fuch. The name> 

 Motmot, is adopted by Mr Pennant from Fernandez. — T.. 



563 I. Brafilian Motmot. — Momotus. brafilienfis* 



Is green-, with a bluifh green front, violet hind head, and black crown. Lath. ind. orn. i'.. 



140. n. 1. 



Ramphaftos Momota. Syft. nat. ed. Gm. 357. n. 8. Borowfk^nat. ii. 98. n. 4. — Momotus. Briff. 

 av. iv. 465. t. 35,-f. 3 — Momot. Will. orn. angl. 3.86. t. 24. Raj. av. 164. — Momot, or Houtou. 

 Buff.. oi£ vi. 430. t. 20. — Momot du Brefil. PI. enL m.370.- — Brafilian Motmot. Lath. fyn. i. 338.. 

 t. 10. — Guira G'uainumbi. Marcgr. braf. 193. — Brafilian raw-billed Roller. Edw. glean., t. 328. 



Inhabits Brafil. — This fpecies is about the fize of a Blackbird in the body, but meafures eighteen 

 inches long, owing to the great length of the two middle tail quills ; it lives in a folitary manner in 

 the moft fequeftered parts of the foreft, building a neft of dried grafs on the ground, or in holes 

 •which have been deferted by Armadillos, laying two eggs each brood -, it feeds on infects, and when 

 in confinement it eats raw flefh, which it tears into fmall pieces and macerates in water; when taken it 

 firikes violently with its bill; the voice is hoarfe, tremulous, and weak. The general colour is a fplendid 

 olive green above, and rufty on the lower parts of the body, a few of the feathers on the breaft being 

 black with blue edges ; the head is rather large in proportion, being black on the crown of the head, 

 f»rrounded with blue ; the corners of the mouth are garnifhed with longifh moveable whilkers ; the 

 wing quills are blue ; the tail is wedge-like and near twelve inches long, its two middle quills being 

 much longer than the reft, -and in fome individuals thefe want webs for about two inches on each fide 



near 



