8 



viridij infr^ nigricante ; rostro nigro ; pedibus rubris, nnguibus nigris : long, tota 7-8, alse 3*0, caudae 3'0, 

 rostri a rictu 1*9. Fern, mari similisj sed gutture rufo et ventre dilutiore diversa. 



Hab. in GuianS,, Cayenna^ Surinamo^ AmazoniS, inferiore et Venezuela. 



In 1760 Brisson, the only pre-Linnean author who, according to the Stricklandian code, is 

 entitled to have his generic names, when additional to those of Linnseus, recognized in the 

 binomial system, instituted the genus " Galhula " for the reception of the present bird and the 

 Paradise-Jacamar, which he termed Galhula longicauda. Brisson adopted the name Galhula 

 from Moehring, who, in his 'Avium Genera,' published in 1762, first applied this classical term 

 to the Jacamars, its legitimate proprietor being, as is usually believed, the Golden Oriole *. 



The great Linnseus was a little behind his contemporaries as regards his knowledge of the 

 Jacamars, and annexed these birds to the genus Alcedo, from which, however, Bufibn and 

 Latham again clearly distinguished them. Since their days the Jacamars have been universally 

 allowed their proper position as an independent gronp ; and the present Jacamar has usually 

 been regarded as the type species of the typical genus Galhula. 



Linnaeus having called this bird Alcedo galhula, we must look to Latham for its first proper 

 specific title, " viridis,'' which was bestowed upon it by that author in 1790, and has been gene- 

 rally used ever since. Galhula mridis has received but few synonyms. In 1815 Stephens very 

 needlessly gave the name ruhricollis to the female of this species, as figured by Audebert and 

 Vieillot in their 'Oiseaux Dores.' In 1838 Swainson, who was never very particular in regarding 

 the names of previous authors, described specimens of this Jacamar obtained by Schomburgk in 

 Guiana as Galhula viridicauda. Lastly, in 1854, Prince Bonaparte published, without any 

 descriptive character, " G. quadricolor, Verreaux," — a name under which, I believe, Amazonian 

 examples of this species had been designated by the late Jules Verreaux in his MSS. and labels. 



The range of this Jacamar seems to be rather wide, extending from Venezuela on the one 

 side down to the northern bank of the Lower Amazons on the other. In Cayenne it is said by 

 the older authors to be known as the '■'■Colihri des grands hois" In Guiana Schomburgk found 

 it " common in pairs in the woods and on the river-banks." " Here," he continues, " they sit 

 stolidly on a twig, and patiently watching for the passing insects, after capturing which they 

 return to their former position. One seldom hears any cry from them. The Warraus call them 

 ' Torong.' " In the " Museum Heineanum " Herren Cabanis and Heine have recorded the receipt 

 of an example of this Jacamar from Puerto Cabello ; and I do not doubt that it occurs all over 

 the lower delta of the Orinoco. At the same time I should mention that I have never had an 

 opportunity of examining Venezuelan specimens, and that the species was not, I believe, met 

 with by Mr. Goering during his researches in the northern part of that Republic. 



In Lower Amazonia G. viridis is widely difi"used. Natterer obtained examples of it at 

 various points on the Rio Negro and Rio Brancho in 1831 and the following years, and also met 

 with it at Borba on the Rio Madeira. Natterer notes the bill as black, the naked ring round 

 the eye blackish grey, the iris dark brown, and the feet yellowish brown with the toes passing 



* Martial writes : — 



" Galhula decipitur calamis et retibus ales, 



Turget adhuc viridi cum rudis uva mero." 



