R A M P H A S T O S carinatus, 

 Sharp-hilled Toucan. 



Generic Character. 



Rostrum capitc longius, inaximum, crasmm, inane, cuUratum, hiisali margine 

 incrassatum ; maxillcB frontali suhlruncato transversa : Narex vertkales, 

 pone maxilla basin sitit ; tomia serruta ; lingua angusta, pcnnncea ; 

 Cauda brnis, aqualis ; pedes scansorii. lUiger. Prod, p. 212. 

 Typus Genericus R. eri/throrynchus Lath. 



Bill very large, longer than the head, thick, light, curved, and thickened 

 at the basal margin ; the frontal angle transversely sub-truncated, 

 margins serrated. Nostrils vertical, behind the base of the bill. 

 Tongue slender, long, and feathered. Tail short, even. Feet scan- 

 sorial. 



Generic Type Red-billed Toucan Lath. 



Specific Character. 



R. niger ; gulafiava; fascia pectorale tegminibusque infcrioribus rubris ; ro- 

 stra viridi, apice rubra ; mandibula superiore culmine carinata Jiavo, la- 

 teribus macula awantia ; iriferiore caruleo varicgata. 



Black; throat yellow ; pectoral bar and vmder tail covers red; bill green, 

 tip red; upper mandible carinated and yellow above, the sides witli 

 an orange spot ; lower mandible varied with blue. 



Yellow-breasted Toucan. Edwards, pi. 329. 



■Ramphastos Tucanus. Yellow-breasted Toucan. Gen, Zooh 8, 302, 

 (excluding the Si/nanyms.) 



JN O tribe of Birds appear so void of that symmetry of form that 

 in general pervades the feathered creation, as the Toucans and 

 Aracaris in the new, and the Hornbills in the old continent. A 

 question naturally arises, \\\\y the bills of these birds should be 

 so monstrously out of pfoportion, and what possible use they 

 can be applied to. The elucidation of these questions is highly 

 interesting, and calls for the most accurate observations to be 

 made in their native regions. It will be sufficient for the present, 

 however, to point out, with regard to the Linnaean Toucans, that 

 the accurate observations and anatomical knowledge of my va- 

 lued friend Dr.Traill, F.R.S. E., of Liverpool, have clearly proved 

 that an immense number of nerves and fibres fill the cavity of 

 these bills, all connected with the organs of smelling, which are 

 in the highest state of development. A short notice on this 

 subject will be found in the Linnaean Transactions ; but as my 

 ri.45. 



