CRIMSON NUT-CRACKER. 15? 



injuring the bill. The sharp tooth at the base of 

 the upper mandible is, no doubt, highly useful in 

 this operation, probably performing the office of a 

 canine tooth by making a first indentation in the 

 Hut, whereby to procure a hold upon it ; the injuries 

 to the bill are also more conspicuous close to this 

 tooth than further towards the tip. 



The form of this bird constitutes its sub-generic 

 character. The bill resembles a perfect cone, the 

 sides of which are quite straight, and in nowise 

 curved outwards. The upper mandible does not 

 project at its tip beyond the under ; it is quite en- 

 tire, excepting a short and rather acute tooth-like 

 process close to its base, while the commissure or 

 line formed by the joining of the two mandibles is 

 nearly straight ; the nostrils are vertical, pierced be- 

 nind the substance of the bill, but completely covered 

 with the frontal feathers, thus very much resembling 

 those of the toucans. The wings are rather short 

 and much rounded ; the first quill is short, narrow, 

 and spurious, about six-tenths of an inch in length ; 

 the second is half an inch shorter than the third, and 

 this latter is equally long with the fourth and fifth. 

 The feet, without being robust, are large and slen- 

 der; the middle toe very long, and exceeds, with its 

 claw, the length of the tarsus ; the hind-claw is as 

 long as its toe, as in many of the scansorial birds, 

 and only falls short of the tarsus by about the tenth 

 of an inch. The tail is broad and much rounded. 



The colouring of the plumage is rich and yet 

 simple. The feathers of the whole head, neck, 



