46 THE ARCHITECTURE OP BIRDS. 



Among these carpenteros they rank the toucans 

 (Ramphastidce), but whether they are correct in this 

 it is difficult to decide, in the absence of any very 

 accurate evidence. The bill of the toucan, indeed, 

 seems, upon a slight inspection, to be sufficiently 

 powerful for the task assigned it ; but it is found on 

 examination to be much inferior in strength to that 

 appearance of it which is indicated by its size. If it 

 were not, indeed, of light materials, it would be im- 

 possible for the bird to carry its head. It is not 

 solid, but full of reticular cells, as thin as paper, 

 over which Dr. Traill, of Liverpool, has shown that 

 the nasal nerves are expanded. Yet the universal 

 opinion of the people where these birds are indige- 

 nous is, that it employs its large bill in the forma- 

 tion of a nest in the trunk of a decayed tree. Wil- 

 lughby, speaking of its resemblance to the wood- 

 peckers, says, " it not only hath a like situation of 

 toes, but also in like manner hews holes in trees to 

 build its nest in." " Faber," he adds, "doth not 



Head and Bill of a Toucan (Kamphastos Toco). 



