210 BULLETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Family RAMPHASTIDAE 



RAMPHASTOS TOCO Muller 



Ramphastos Toco Muller, Natursyst., Suppl., 1776, p. S2. (Cayenne.) 



A few of these toucans were seen at Resistencia, Chaco, during 

 early July, while at Las Palmas, in the same Territory, they were 

 common from July 13 to 31. An adult male was taken July 20. 

 The birds frequented the border of open forest or were found in 

 trees scattered through small openings. They ranged in little com- 

 panies of from three to six individuals and were rather wary. 

 In early morning it was common for them to perch in the top of 

 some tree to enjoy the heat of the sun, when if chance brought them 

 between the observer and the bright light their bills appeared trans- 

 lucent. Trees of various sorts that bore berries were frequented^ 

 and in spite of the apparently clumsy bill, drupes were seized and 

 swallowed adroitly. On one occasion one descended to a perch on 

 a tree root fully 15 inches above the inky water of a lowland stream 

 in order to drink. It bent over gingerly, hestitating several times 

 before dipping the tip of the bill in the water, a caution directed 

 by the presence of savage fish and jacares (alligators). When a few 

 drops of water had been secured the head was thrown back and the 

 fluid swallowed. The call note of this species is a harsh rattling 

 grunt. Flight is accomplished by a succession of beats of the wings 

 followed by a short sail. 



The specimen taken had the line of culmen, mandible, and side 

 of maxilla scarlet red; upper part of mandible wax yellow; tip of 

 mandible and line aroimd entire base of bill black ; bare skin around 

 eye orange chrome ; eyelids smalt blue surrounded by a line of light 

 cadmium; iris hazel; front of tarsus parrot gTeen; posterior face 

 of tarsus and toes Alice blue ; claws black. 



Family PICIDAE 



PICUMNUS CIRRATUS PILCOMAYENSIS Hargitt 



Picumnus pilcomayensu Hargitt, Ibis, 1891, p. 606. (Rio Pilcomayo.) 



Eight skins of the piculet that I have listed under this name repre- 

 sent two distinct forms, but at the present moment these can not be 

 separated successfully because of confusion existing with regard to 

 Hargitt 's designation of type for his Picwmnus pilcomayensis. In 

 the series mentioned three skins (and one alcoholic specimen) from 

 Resistencia and Las Palmas, Chaco (two males and two females), 

 differ constantly from five from the Riacho Pilaga (Kilometer 182). 

 Formosa, and Puerto Pinasco, Paraguay (four males and one 

 female), in heavier barring of the undersurface that covers the entire 

 foreneck and lower throat, leavins: the chin alone white. In the 



