58 



Jacameroj^s grandis, Scl, et Salv. P. Z. S- 1864, p. 363. 

 Jacamero^s grandis, Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1867, p. 582. 

 Jacamerops grandis, Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 25 (1871). 

 Jacamerops grandis, Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1873, p. 294. 

 Jacamerops grandis, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 105 (1873). 

 Jacameroj^s grandis, Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1879, p. 536. 



Supra nitide metallico-viridisj praecipiae in interscapulio cupreo nitens; alls caudaque nigricantibus^ extus 

 dorso concoloribus ; subtus castaneus^ cervicis lateribus dorso concoloribus, gutturis plaga mediana 

 alba^ mento nigricante ; subalaribus et remigum marginibus interioribus castaneis ; rostro uigro, 

 pedibus fuscis : long, tota lO'Sj alse 4"5, caudse Q'O, rostri a rictu 2"1. Fem. mari similis, sed macula 

 gulari nuUa^, et colore corporis subtus dilutiore. 



Hab. in Guiana tota^ Amazonia et Colombia usque ad istbmum Panamensem. 



Theke can be no doubt, I think, that, as has been already pointed out, the most natural division 

 of the Galbulidse is into two groups, of one of which Jacamerops is the sole representative. 

 This is not only indicated by the peculiar incurved and serrated bill and the different structure 

 of the feet and tail, but is also further evidenced by the habits of the present species, which 

 vary in some degree from those of the rest of the family. 



Our knowledge of the existence of this larger form of Jacamar dates from the middle of the 

 last century. In 1768 it was described and figured by Vosmaer, Director of the Cabinet of 

 Nature and Art of the then Prince of Orange, in one of his tracts* devoted to the description of 

 the rare objects of the Prince's collection. Vosmaer calls this bird a "long-tailed Kingfisher 

 with two fingers turned forwards and two behind," and tells us that it was brought from the 

 Dutch plantation of Berbice. There can, however, be no doubt, from Vosmaer's description 

 and figure, that the bird in question was a male of the present species of Jacamar. In 1776, in 

 his supplementary volume to his edition of Linngeus's ' Systema Naturae,' P. L. S. Miiller based 

 his '■^ Alcedo aurea" upon Vosmaer's bird. 



Three years afterwards the Eussian naturalist Pallas shortly indicated the existence of this 

 species as one of three new species of Galhula with which he was acquainted, in a footnote to 

 his article on Alcedo tridactyla, published in the sixth part of his ' Spicilegia Zoologica.' Pallas 

 gave the bird no specific name; but Latham in 1782 based his "Great Jacamar" on Pallas's 

 description; and Gmelin shortly afterwards latinized Latham's title into '■• Galbula grandis.'' 

 Gmelin's specific name having met with universal adoption up to the present time, I am not 

 willing to propose any change, although there can be no question that, according to the strict 

 laws of priority, Miiller's title should be allowed precedence. 



At the beginning of the present century examples of this Jacamar appear to have been also 



* ' Beschryving van een zeer fraaien, zeldzaamen, of Misschien geheel onbekenden, Amerikaanschen Langstaartigen 

 Ts-Yogel, aan den welken men twee voor- en twee agter-vingers ontmoet, herwaarts gebragt uit de Hollandsche Yolk- 

 planting de Berbice, en bewaard wordende in het Museum van zyne doorluchtigste hoogheid, den Heere Prinse von 

 Orange en Nassauw, Erfstadhouder, Erf-gouverneur, Erf-Kapitein-Generaal en Admiraal der Vereenigde IN'ederlanden, 

 enz. enz. Beschreeven en uitgegeeven door A. Yosmaer. Te Amsterdam.' By Pieter Meijer. 1768. 



