AYES. 447 



fourth and fifth subequal, longest of all. Tarsi covered anteriorly 

 by large scutes. Claws curved, acute. Orbital region unplumed. 



The Toucans. These birds live in the warm countries of America. They 

 feed on fruits and insects, but also eat eggs and young birds. The bill is 

 of enormous size, but very light, and occupied internally by a trellis-work 

 of bony laminae, which is very vascular. (Compare TRAIL, Linn. Transact. 

 XI. pp. 288, 289.) There is a monograph by GOULD on this genus (Mono- 

 graph of the Family of the Rhamphastidce, London, 1834, folio), of which a 

 German edition, with additions, has been published by J. H. C. F. and 

 J. W. STURM. The furcula consists of two bony pieces terminating below, 

 thin, and not united. The sternum has two deep incisions on each side 

 behind. The same applies to the skeletons which I have examined in the 

 following family (species of Capito). 



Rhamphastos ILLIG. Bill higher and broader than forehead. 

 Nostrils concealed behind the prominent base of bill, surrounded 

 by membrane. Tail even or rounded. 



Sp. Rhamphastus Tucanus L., BUFF. PI. enl. 307; Rhamphastus toco Gar., 

 BUFF. PI. enl. 82, LESS. Ornith. PL 25, fig. 2 ; in this species the bill is 

 longer than the half of the body with the tail, of a yellow colour, with a 

 black spot at the extremity of the upper mandible ; Rh. discolorus GM., 

 BUFF. PL enl. 269, &c. 



Pteroglossus ILLIG., (Aracari BUFF.). Bill of the height of 

 forehead. Nostrils conspicuous in the base of bill. Tail long, 

 graduated. 



Sp. Rhamphastus Aracari L., BUFF. PL enl. 166, LESS. Ornith. PI. 25, 

 fig. i ; Rhamph. piperivorus L., Pteroglossus culik WAGL., BUFF. PL enl. 

 577, 729; Rhamphastus sulcatus, Pteroglossus sulcatus SWAINS., TEMM. 

 PL col. 356, &c. These species are generally smaller than the preceding, 

 and have the bill less large. 



Family XXII. Pogonophorce. Bill moderate or shorter than 

 head, thick, furnished with bristles at the base. Anterior toes 

 connate at the first joint. (Tail with only ten feathers in many. 

 Wings with first quill short, fourth and fifth mostly longest of all.) 



Pogonorliynchus nob., Pogonias ILLIG. *, TEMM., Pogonius LEACH. 

 Bill moderate, thick, with culmen arched, tip compressed, acute. 



1 This name, already given by LACEP&DE and CUVIER to a genus of fishes (see 

 above, p. 1 79), cannot be kept. In the first edition, therefore, of this Handbook (n. 

 p. 446), in 1833, we proposed the name of Pogonorhynchus; this must have escaped the 

 notice of G. R. GRAY, generally so strict as to priority, when he adopted in his work 

 on the genera of birds the name Laimodon, proposed by him in 1841. 



