BUCCO RADIATUS. 



THE RADIATED PUFF-BIRD. 

 PLATE XXXVI. 



Mcco radiatus, Scl. P. Z. S. 1853, p. 122, t. 60. 



Bucco radiatus, Scl. Ann. N. H. ser. 2, xiii. p. 361 (1854). 



Bucco radiatus, Scl. Syn. Bucc. p. 11 (1854). 



Caj)ito ruficervix, Bp. Consp. Vol. Zyg. p. 13 (1854). 



Bucco radiatus, Scl. P. Z. S. 1855, p. 136. 



Bucco radiatus, Scl. P. Z. S. 1855, p. 196. 



Bucco radiatus, Scl. Cat. A. B. p. 271 (1862). 



Nystalus radiatus. Cab. et Heine, Mus. Hein. iv. p. 141 (1863). 



Bucco radiatus, Scl. et Salv. Nomencl. p. 106 (1873). 



Bucco radiatus, Pelzeln, Ibis, 1875, p. 330. 



Bucco radiatus, Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1879, p. 536. 



Suprk castaneus^ nigro transversim radiatus ; torque colli postici et capitis lateribus pallide fulvis nigro 

 fasciolatis ; loris albidis ; nucha et dorso summo nigricantioribus ; subtus albus aut ochraceo-albus, 

 cervice antic^, pectore et ventris lateribus fasciis transversis nigris occupatis ; alis caudaque castaneis 

 nigro regulariter transfasciatis ; subalaribus et remigum pogoniis internis cinnamomeis plus minusve 

 rufescentibus ; rostro viridescenti-plumbeo, pedibus corylinis : long, tota 7'S, alse 3'5, caudse 2'9, rostri 

 a rictu 1"4. Fem. mari similis. 



Hab. in yEquatoria et in Columbia usque ad istbniuni Panamensem. 



Although many examples of this fine Puff-bird have been received in Europe of late years, and 

 its range is apparently extensive, we have acquired absolutely no knowledge of its habits and 

 mode of life. It may be assumed, I suppose, that in these respects it does not differ from other 

 nearly allied members of the group ; but precise information on this subject would be very 

 desirable. In the meantime I must ask my readers to be content with a summary of the little 

 that is known of its history. 



I first acquired an example of this bird in 1847; but at that time I thought it might possibly 

 be only an immature form of Bucco chacuru. In 1853, when collecting and examining materials 

 for my ' Synopsis of the Bucconidae,' I found other similar specimens in the British Museum, the 

 study of which induced me to decide that the species was distinct and new to science ; and I 

 accordingly described and figured it in the ' Proceedings ' of the Zoological Society for that year 

 as Bucco radiatus, and subsequently inserted it in my ' Synopsis ' under the same name. After 

 this period little advance took place in our knowledge of this species until the late Mr. Salmon 

 undertook his extensive researches into the ornithology of Antioquia, of which Mr. Salvin and I 

 gave an account in the Zoological Society's 'Proceedings' for 1879. Mr. Salmon sent home in 

 Scl. Jac. & Puffb. No. XV.-^JuIt/, 1881. Q 



