PLATE LXIII. 



Tucana Cayennensis Viridis. Bris, av. 4. j). 423. iu 8. t. SS, 

 Toucan Verd de Cayenne. Buff.ph Efilum, n, 7.^7. 728. 



The extraordinary magnitude of the bill in the Toucan tribe 

 cannot fail to excite attention ; in comparison with the dimensions of 

 the bird it may be deemed enormous, and its structure is not less 

 singular^ or less worthy of remark. There is some difference in the 

 proportions and form of the bill in different species of the Linnsean 

 Toucans, and also in the union of the toes of the feet ; and these 

 differences have induced some late ornithologists to divide the 

 Toucans into two or more sections, as we find in the writings of 

 Vieillot and others. The bird before us was originally described by 

 Brisson, under the name of Tucana, whence the more familiar name 

 of Toucan. It was afterwards described by Buffon under the name 

 of Aracari, and by Linnaeus under that of Ramphastos viridis. 

 Illiger has again assigned to it another name, he denominates it 

 J*teroglossus, and it now constitutes the type of his genus of that 

 name. This alteration, which appears to be suggested by peculiar 

 circumstances, however accurate, we deem unlikely to contribute in 

 any material degree to the assistance of the Ornithologist in the 

 determination of the genus ; the character of the bill and legs are 

 alone sufficient for this purpose, and we therefore feel but little in- 

 clination to abandon the Linnaean name by which this tribe of birds 

 has been so well distinguished for nearly a century past in favor of 

 another assuredly less expressive of the obvious character of the 

 genus ; the Linnaean term alluding to the bill or rostrum, the singu- 

 larity of which is sufficiently conspicuous, while that of the Pteroglossi 



