HESSHAW.] TOUCAN. 137 



ever, .as the cast in the Smithsoniau collection shows three toes in front 

 and one behind, it is probably safe to assume that the additional hind 

 toe was the result of mistake on the part of the modern artist, so that 

 four may be accepted as its proper quota. The mistake then chargeable 

 to the above authors is that in their discussion they transferred one 

 toe from before and added it behind. In this curious way came their 

 zygodactylous bird. 



This same pipe is figured by Stevens in Flint Chips, p. 426, Fig. 5. 

 The wood-cut is a poor one, and exhibits certain imi)ortant changes, 

 which, on the assumjition that the pipe is at all well illustrated by the 

 cast in the Smithsonian, reflects more credit on the artist's knowledge 

 of what a toucau ought to look like than on his fidelity as an exact 

 copyist. 



The etchings across the upper surface of the base of the pipe, mis- 

 called fingers, are not only made to assume a band-like appearance but 

 the accommodating fancy of the artist 

 has provided a roundish object in the 

 palm, which the bird appears about 

 to pick up. The bill, too, has been 

 altered, having become rounded and 

 decidedly toucan-like, while the tail 

 has undergone abbreviation, also in 



the direction of likeness to the toucan. rio. it— Toucan as figured by Stevens. 



In short, much that was lacking in the aboriginal artist's conception 

 towards the likeness of a toucan has in this figure been supplied by 

 his modern interpreter. 



This cut corresponds with the cast in the Smithsonian collection, in 

 having the normal number of toes, four — three iu front and one behind. 

 This departure fiom the arrangement common to the toucan family, 

 which is zygodactylous, seems to have escaped Stevens's attention. At 

 least he volunteers no explanation of the discrepancy, being, doubtless, 

 influenced in his acceptance of the bird as a toucau by the statements 

 of others. 



Wilson follows the cut of Squier and Davis, and represents the bird 

 with five toes, stating that the toucan is "imitated with considerable 

 accuracy." He adds: "The most important deviation from correctness 

 of detail is, it has three toes instead of two before, although the two are 

 correctly represented behind." How Wilson is guided to the belief that 

 the sculptor's mistake consists in adding a toe iu front instead of one 

 behind it would be diflicult to explain, unless, indeed, he felt the neces- 

 sity of having a toucan at all hazards. The truth is that, the question 

 of toes aside, this carving in no wise i-esenibles a toucan. Its long legs 

 and proportionally long toes, coupled with the rather long neck and bill, 

 indicate with certainty a wading bird of some kind, and in default of 

 anything that comes nearer, an ibis may be suggested; though if in- 

 tended by the sculptor as an ibis, candor compels the statement that the 

 ibis family has no reason to feel complimented. 



