RAMPHASTOS VITELLINUS, Miger.

Sulphur-and-white-breasted ‘Toucan.

 

Sprectric CHARACTER.

: aA . A EN : A . A . A .
Ramph. rostro nigro, fascia basalt ceruleo-cand postice linea nigra cincta: niger; pectore
aurantiaco-flaco in album ad latera et anticé transeunte; torque pectoral caudceque

tectricibus coccineis.

Beak black, with a basal band of greyish blue bounded posteriorly by a narrow band of black ;
naked space round the eye blueish lead colour; general plumage black; breast orange
yellow in the centre, becoming gradually paler towards the side, where it is quite white,
especially on the cheeks and throat ; the orange colour of the breast is bounded by a
pectoral band of scarlet, the upper and under tail-coverts being of the same colour.

Total length, 17 or 18 inches; bell, 5; wengs, 7; tail, (CS. MS 1

Le Pignancoin. Levaill., Ois. de Parad., vol. 2. pl. 7.

Ramphastos vitellinus. Mig —Lichtenst—Swains., Zool. [llust., vol.

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aS

Or

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Were it not that the blue band at the base of the beak fades immediately after death, the present species

would be easily distinguished : independently of this, however, the white ear-coverts and sides of the chest

are sufficiently characteristic to distinguish it from all others. It appears to have been separated from the rest

of its genus by Illiger, and has been figured by Mr. Swainson in his ‘ Zoological Illustrations.” It inhabits
oe Surinam, Cayenne, Guiana, and the borders of the Amazon, in which countries its beautiful yellow chest is

held in high esteem by the natives, by whom its skin is often prepared for ornaments.
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