PTEROGLOS SUS PAVONINUS.
Peacock Grooye-bill Araçari.
S p e c i f ic C h a r a c t e r .
Pter. rostro nigro, ad basin lineâ aurantiaco-flava circundato, lateribm (nisi basin versus) Jlavis
supernè in coeruleo-viridem transeuntibus infra lined nigrâ a tomio sejunctis: prasinus, subtùs
pallidior tectricibus caudæ inferioribus rectricumque apicibus brunneis; remigibus nigrescenti-
bri/imeis ; orbitoe rubroe : pedes plumbei.
Bill black, with the exception of two thirds of the upper mandible (measuring from the point),
which has the central portion of the sides fine yellow, on the upper fading into rich blue
green, on the lower, which is separated from the dentition line by a narrow stripe of black,
the base of both mandibles surrounded by a line of orange yellow ; the whole of the
upper and under surface, with the exception of the under tail-coverts and the tip of the
tail-feathers which are brown, is of a rich grass green, paler on the throat and under surface
; quills blackish brown ; bare skin round the eye red ; feet lead colour.
Total length, 13 to 14 inches; bill, nearly 34; wing, 5 f; tail, 51; tarsi, If.
Pteroglossus pavoninus, Label in Royal Museum, Munich. Gould, Proceedings of Zool. Soc.,
P a rt III.
T his species is even more diminutive in each of its relative parts than Pter. Prusimis, which, as well as the
present bird, is a native of Mexico. Independently of its less size, it may be distinguished from its near ally
by the peculiar form and marking of the bill, the basal portion of which is entirely surrounded by black ; and
a beautiful green and yellow colour is spread over the sides of the upper mandible. No other specimen than
the one contained in the collection at Munich has come under my notice; a label hearing the name of Pter.
pavoninus was attached to this example; and it would appear to have been a recent acquisition, from the
circumstance of its not being noticed in the valuable Monograph of Dr. Wagler, who met an untimely death
about two years since while on a shooting excursion near Munich; in passing through a hedge with a loaded
gun, the muzzle of which was directed towards his body, it unfortunately exploded, and we regret to add
caused a speedy termination to the worldly cares of a man whose numerous works and great abilities had
rendered him one of the most scientific naturalists of the age.