PTEROGLOSSUS VIRIDIS, Swainson.

Green Aracari.

  
  
  
    
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
   
 
 
   
   
 
 
   
    

SpecrFic CHARACTER.

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Mas. Pter. rostro magno ; mandibuld superiore culmine sordideé citrino, subtis lined longitudinali

nigra a lateribus aurantiaco-flavis discreto ; mandibula inferiore violaced, ad basin rosed :
olivaceo-viridis ; subtus luteus ; capite colloque nigris ; crisso coccineo.

Foem. Capite colloque castaneis.

Male. Beak large, culmen regularly arched of a dull lemon yellow, beneath which runs a
longitudinal streak of black ; the lower portion of the upper mandible orange yellow; the :
lower mandible violet blue with a roseate base; bare space round the eye, and the legs

rass green; the whole of the head and throat deep black; wings, back, and tail olive

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green ; rump scarlet ; under surface greenish yellow.
Female. Differs from the male only in having those parts chestnut brown which in the male
are black.

Total length, 14 inches; beak, 32; wing, 4+; taal, 5; tarsus, 1+.

Green Toucan. Lath., Syn., 1. 331.

Toucan verd de Cayenne. Tucana Cayanensis viridis. Briss., Ois., 4. 423. pl. 33. fig. 1.
Id., Orn., 2. 162. Pl. Enl. 727. mas., 728. foem.

Pteroglossus viridis. Swains., Zool. Illust., vol. 3. pl. 169.

Tue male of this species has been figured by Mr. Swainson in his ‘‘ Zoological Illustrations,” and depending
on the usual accuracy with which that gentleman delineates his subjects, I am able to add, from his drawing,
the natural colouring of the bill and soft parts which ornament the living bird, but which fades almost
immediately after death, rendering the specimens in our cabinets far less vivid and beautiful than when seen
in a state of nature.

The natural habitat of P. virzdis appears to be Demerara and the adjacent northern countries of tropical
America. In these parts it is numerously distributed, and is, in fact, one of the commonest species of the
genus, there being few collections in Europe without examples of both sexes.

It will be seen that the present species fully illustrates the character which pervades many of the Aracaris,
viz. the circumstance of the female having those parts chestnut which in the male are of a glossy black.

The specific term viridis, applied to this bird, which possesses so many colours, is somewhat inapplicable.
The robust bill, and the peculiar style of colouring which pervades that organ, easily distinguish it from every

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other species.
Inhabits Demerara, Guiana, &c.

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