Book II. O^^IT HO LO Qf\ 119 ' 



that the Toes in this Bird are difpofed after the manner of the Woodpecker*, viz. two 

 forwards, and two backwards. For fuch is the conformation of the Feet of the 

 Aracari of Marggrave, a bird near of kin, and Very like to this. And Thevetus in his 

 figure expreffes only two foretoes. 



Since the writing of this, hapning to read in John Faber his Expositions of fome 

 Pi&ures of New-Spain Animals of Recch#s, Itfbund there mentioned a bird of this 

 fort feen and defcribed by Carlo Antonio dal Pozzo at Fontain-bleau in France, with 

 its Toes fo difpofed as I imagined, viz. two forwards two backwards, as in Wood- 

 peckers, to the genus whereof the Toucan, as Faber in this place proves, doth un- 

 doubtedly belong. For it not only hath a like fixation of Toes, but alfo in like man- 

 ner hews holes in trees to build its Neft in, as Frier Peter Alvayfa, and other Indians and 

 Spaniards, who had long lived in America, told Faber for a certain truth 3 and Ovie* 

 dus, in the forty third Chapter of his Summary of the Hiftory of the Weft Indies 

 publimed in Italian, writes 3 adding, that he thinks there is no bird fecures her young 

 ones better from the Monkeys, which are very noifom to the Young of moft Birds. 

 For when (he perceives the approach of thofe Enemies, (he fo fettles her felf in her 

 Neft as to put her Bill out at the hole, and gives the Moneys fiich awelcom there- 

 with, that they prefently pack away, and glad they (cape fo. From this quality of 

 boring trees this Bird is by the Spaniards called Carpintero, and by the Brafrfhns Taca- 

 taca, in imitation I fuppofe of the found it makes. 



Becaufe the Bird exa&ly defcribed by Dal Pozzo, feemsto be fpecifically different 

 from that of Aldrovandus, I (hall here add his defcription. 



It was ( faith he ) a little bigger than the common Magpie. [ Lerius maketh it of the 

 bignefsof a Dove*, Oviedo, not bigger, or but little bigger than a ghiail. ~] Its Billy 

 which is very broad, had its upper part [or Chap ~] where it grew to the Head, tinctu- 

 red with green, a line of green being alfo thence produced to the point 3 but its 

 lower Chap at its fetting on to the Head a blue colour. All the reft of the Bill was 

 of a dark red, like Serpentine wood, with many intercurrent black fpots and lines. 

 N.B. Its Bill was, empty and hollow, and upon that account very light [.Oviedo 

 makes it very heavy, and to weigh more than the whole body befides, which is cer- 

 tainly a miftake] fothat it had little ftrength in it, neither could the bird peck or 

 ftrike fmartly with it. Its infide was of a Saffron-colour, but blue toward the tip. 



It had a very flat thin Tongue, not much unlike thofe long feathers on the Neck 

 of a Dunghil-Cock^: This it moved up and down, and ftretcht out to the length of 

 the Bill. It was of a true fiefti-eolour, and which you would wonder at, fringed, as 

 it were, on each fide with very finall filaments, which made it fhew like a true feather. 

 £ This Oviedus alio confirms. 3 



Its feathers on the Neck 4ownto the middle of the Breaft were whitith, termi- 

 nating in a footy colour 5 on the Head and Back blackifh. Round the Eyes was a 

 fpace bare of feathers, but curled with hair, of a Violet' colour, as is feen alfo in Par- 

 rots. The reft of the body was covered with feathers of a Weafel-colour [ muftelini 

 coloris. ] It had no Tail, [ having been, I fuppofe, plucked off] but one ready to 

 come 3 the beginning whereof confifted of feathers of a dark white, particoloured 

 with black, weafel, and Vermilion colour. It alfo frequently flirted up that rudiment 

 of a Tail, as Wrens arid Wagtails are wont to do. 



Each foot was divided into two Toes ftanding forward, and two backward 3 above 

 of a Violet-colour, underneath of an a(h or grey. 



It often hopped and leapt up and down, and cried with a voice not unlike the chat- 

 tering of a Magpie. 



It fed upon almoft all the fame things that Parrots do, but was moft greedy of 

 Grapes, which being plucktofl one by one, and tolled to it, it would moft dextrouf- 

 ly catch in the Air before they fell to the ground. The flefh of the whole body was 

 of a deep Violet colour. "• • 



Faber doth not undefervedly enquire how, feeing the Bill is fo light and thin, the 

 Bird can pierce trees with it? Which difficulty he thusfatisfies \ that though it be thin 

 and light, yet is it of a bony fubftance, and therefore it is not to be wondredat 

 that, dextroufly ufed by the living Animal, it lliould therewith by many repeated 

 ftrokes pierce a tree, having perchance the inftind: to chufe a rotten one, as we 

 fee drops of rainwear holes in Flints, Tiay,^the very feet of Pifmires walking often 

 over them, as Pliny obferves, make impreffions on them. * Lerius writes, that this * chap.to. 

 Bird is J f the colour of a Raven except the Breaft, which is of a Saffron-co- ° n f ^'|/ age 

 loup, compalled beneath with a line of Vermilion 5 the skin of which part pluckt int 



§ off 



