INTRODUCTION. 
of the group; such too the yellow of various intensities, and more or less interrupted, which 
spreads over a greater or less extent of the under surface in most of the species. None of 
these, however, is constant throughout the genus, which consequently presents in the different 
species comprehended in it, a greater variety of colouring than is met with in the Toucans, 
passing from the brilliancy and diversified painting of the Royal or Cayenne Ara 9 aris, to the com¬ 
paratively sombre appearance of the Golden-green or the Grooved-billed. The colour of the 
naked parts is similar to that which is met with in the Toucans; the legs being either blue or 
greenish, and the naked space round the eyes being generally of the same colour. There are 
only two species known in which the naked space surrounding the eyes is red. 
A. In the first section of the Aragaris may be comprehended those species in which the 
yellow of the under surface is crossed by a band at the junction of the breast with the belly. 
In all these birds the yellow of the under surface is more or less blotched with crimson; the 
upper tail-coverts are crimson; and the head and neck are black, the black being occasionally 
converted into chestnut on the ears. The males and females offer no difference in their 
colouring. To this section belong: 
1 . T?ter, Aracar 'i ; with the sides of the upper mandible dirty white, and the ventral band 
broad and crimson. 
2 . Pter. Castanotis ; with the sides of the upper mandible obliquely divided into black 
and yellow, the sides of the face and of the head chestnut, and the ventral band 
broad and crimson. 
3. Pter. regalis ; with the sides of the upper mandible dirty white with black serrations, 
the ventral band narrow, black in front and crimson behind, and the black of the 
neck bounded behind by a narrow band of rich chestnut, 
B. The second section of the Ara 9 aris comprehends those in which the breast is crimson 
and the belly yellow. In these, as in the birds of the pre\dous section, the upper tail-coverts 
are crimson ; the head and neck are also of a dark colour, which is deep chestnut, except 
on the upper part of the head, where it is black. It comprehends two species : 
4. Pter. hitorquatus ; with the outer half of the lower mandible black, a yellow collar 
(occasionally absent) at the lower part of the throat, and the back of the neck 
crimson. 
5. Pter, Azarw, with the bill yellowish throughout, a narrow black band at the lower 
part of the throat, and a broad black band crossing the breast. 
5 
