IIENSHAW.l 



TOUCAN. 



135 



this figure, giveu by the latest commentators ou the Cinciiinati tablet, 

 is interesting, and has seemed worthy of mention. As, however, the 

 authenticity of the tablet itself is not above suspicion, but, on the con- 

 trary, is believed by many archaiologists to admit of grave doubts, the 

 subject need not be pursued further here. 



TOUCAN. 



The a priori probability that the toucan was known to the Mound-Build- 

 ers is, of course, much less than that the manatee was, since no species 

 of toucan occurs iarther north tban Southern Mexico. Its distant hab- 

 itat also militates against the idea that the Mouud-Builders could have 

 acquireil a knowledge of the bird from intercourse with southern tribes, 

 or that they received the supposed toucan pipes by way of trade. With- 

 out discussing the several theories 

 to which the toucan pipes have 

 giveu rise, let us first examine the 

 evidence oftered as to the presence 

 in the mounds of sculptures of the 

 toucan. 



It is a little perplexing to find at 

 the outset that Squier and Davis, 

 not content with one toucan, have 

 figured three, and these differing 

 from each other so widely as to be 

 referable, according to modern or- 

 nithological ideas, to very distinct 

 orders. 



The first allusion to the toucan in 



Fig. 14.— Toncan of Squier and Davia. 



the Monuments of the Jlississippi Valley is found on page 19i, where 

 the authors guardedly remark of a bird's head iu terra cotta (Fig. .79), 

 «It represents the head of a bird, somewhat resembling the toucan, and 

 is executed with much spirit.'' 



This head is vaguely suggestive of a young eagle, the proportions of 

 the bill of which, until of someage, are considerably distorted. The posi- 

 tion of the nostrils, however, and the contour of the mandibles, together 

 with the position of the eyes, show clearly enough that it is a likeness 

 of no bird known to ornithology. It is enough for our present purpose 

 to say that in no particular does it bear any conceivable reseiublance to 



the toucan. 



Of the second supposed toucan (Ancient Monuments, p., 260, Fig. 169) 

 here illustrated, the authors remark : 



Tho engraving very well represents the original, wbicli is delicately carved from a 

 compact limestone. It is supposed to represent the toucau-a tropical bird, and one 



