RAMPHASTOS DICOLORUS, Gmei. 
Green-billed Toucan. 
Specific Character. 
Ramph. rostro viridi-luteo, marginibus serratis rubris, fascia lata basali nigra; pectore auran- 
tiaco, lined sulphured cincto ,- cibclomine caudceque tectricibus coccineis. 
Crown of the head, back, wings, tail, flanks, thighs and vent black glossed with steel-blue ; 
chin and throat delicate primrose-yellow, with a large gorget-like mark of rich orange in 
the centre; abdomen, upper and under tail-coverts blood-red; bill greenish yellow, be¬ 
coming of a more pure yellow on the culmen; both mandibles surrounded at the base by 
a broad band of black; orbits red; immediately behind the nostrils a small patch of 
yellow feathers; irides greenish yellow, the green tint predominating so as to form a ring 
next the pupil; eyelash greyish blue ; feet blue. 
Total length, 18 inches; bill, 31 ; wing, 7k; tail, 6 k; tarsi, If. 
Ramphastos dicolorus, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 152.—Gmel. Edit. Linn. Syst. Nat. tom. i. 
p. 356.—Lath. Ind. Orn., tom. i. p. 135.—Swains. Zool. Ilk, vol. ii. pi. 108.— 
Jard. and Selby, Ill. Orn. vol. i. pi. 29-—Turt. Edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., vol. i. 
p. 211.—Wagl. Syst. Av., Ramphastos, sp. 14.—Less. Trait6 d’Orn., p. 173, 
Ramphastos, sp. 14.—Vieill. Ency. Metli. Orn., Part III. p. 1429. pi. 107, fig’- 3. 
—Gould, Mon. of Ramph., pi. 11.—lb., Sturm’s Edit., pi. .—Gray and Mitch. 
Gen. of Birds, vol. ii. p. 403, Ramphastos, sp. 11.—Bonap. Consp. Gen. Av., 
p. 93, Ramphastos, sp. 14. 
- chlororhynchus, Temm. Man. d’Orn., tom. i. p. lxxvi. 
- pectorcilis, Shaw, Gen. Zook, vol. viii. p. 365. 
Le Tucai, Azara, Voy. dans fAimer. Mer. Sonn. Edit., tom. iii. p. 143. No. LI. 
Toucan cl gorge jaune, Bulk. PI. Enk, 269-—lb. Hist des Ois., tom. vii. p. 118. 
Yellow-throatecl Toucan, Lath. Gen. Syn., vol. i. p. 325.—lb. Gen. Hist. vol. ii. p. 282. 
Le Petit Toucan a ventre rouge, Levaill. Hist. Nat. des Ois. de Parad., torn. ii. p. 22. pi. 8. 
Ramphastos Tucai, Licht. Verz. der Doubk, p. 7- No. 23.'—Wagl. Syst. Av., Ramphastos, 
sp. 13.—Less. Trait6 d’Orn., p. 173, Ramphastos, sp. 13. 
It is the opinion of ornithologists generally that this bird is referable to the Ramphastos dicolorus of Lin¬ 
naeus and Gnielin, under which appellation I have accordingly retained it: if such be the case, it is certain 
that the habitat assigned to it by those authors (Cayenne) is decidedly incorrect; the true habitat of the 
species being the southern portions of Brazil and Paraguay, all, or nearly all the specimens which reach 
this country, coming by way of Rio de Janeiro. Mr. Natterer shot it in the forests on the road to San 
Paulo, but never observed it farther to the southward than the 25th degree of south latitude. It is very 
well described by Azara, who mentions that he met with it in the dense woods, but gives no account of its 
habits. 
The R. dicolorus may be readily distinguished from every other known species by its greenish yellow bill 
and by its scarlet abdomen. It is so extremely common, that no collection need be without examples. 
The two lower figures represent young birds in that state in which they are barely capable of providing 
for their own wants ; the bill at this age is extremely delicate in texture, and is so soft and yielding as 
apparently to require the most soft and pulpy fruits, to which in all probability insects and their larvae are 
added. It will be seen that in this youthful state the plumage has assumed the almost perfect colouring, 
the tints being scarcely less brilliant than those of the adult, and I believe that the same law prevails with 
regard to the other species of the family. In this respect they closely resemble the Kingfishers and other 
Fissirostral birds, as they also do in laying white eggs and incubating in dark recesses, especially the holes 
of trees. 
The sexes are alike in colouring, but the female is somewhat smaller than the male. 
The figures are of the natural size. 
