PTEROGLOSSUS CROCEUS, (nobis). 

 Saffron-coloured Ar^aqari. 



PLATE VI. 



P. croceus, snbtus pallidior, uropigio crissoque rubris. 



JL his species of Araqari is one of the many new and interesting ornithologi- 

 cal objects discovered by Dr Such in the Brazils, and brought to England, 

 with other rare and valuable skins, about two years ago. Having never re- 

 ceived any specific appellation from its discoverer, or since its introduction to 

 our museums, it becomes necessary, now that we are about to figure and de- 

 scribe it for the first time, to give it some name, whereby to distinguish it 

 from its congeners, and which we propose to do under the title of croceus, a 

 saffron-yellow being the prevailing colour of its plumage. The bill of this 

 species is large, measuring in many specimens upwards of four inches in 

 length : it is considerably arched, and much hooked at the tip, the serratures 

 regular and well defined. Its precise colour in the living bird has not been 

 recorded ; but, from the uniform tint observable in the specimens brought 

 here, it appears to have been of a bright yellowish-green, with a narrow streak 

 of pale yellow running along the lateral margin of the upper mandible. The 

 upper parts of the body are deep oil-green, the feathers which clothe the 

 crown and nape margined with saffron-yellow; forehead, and all the un- 

 der parts saffron-yellow. On the rump, and passing underneath across the 

 vent, is a narrow band of red. The tail is long and cuneated, of a deep oil- 

 green colour. The legs, toes, and claws, greyish-blue. Average length, ex- 

 clusive of the bill, about twelve inches. 



The Aracaris are natives of South America, and resemble, in their gene- 

 ral appearance, the true Toucans, with which they were associated by the 

 earlier methodists. They were afterwards, with great propriety, separated 

 from the genus Ramphastos by Illiger, who instituted a new genus (Ptero- 

 gfossus) for their reception. Dull olive, or oil-green and yellows, appear to 



(6) c 2 



