OBSERVATIONS

ON

THE ANATOMY OF THE TOUCAN

 

Tue organs of digestion in the Toucan present a general simplicity of structure, which
geographical as and power of assimilating both animal and vegetable food, so abund
Nature in a tropical climate. The amplitude of the cesoph
correspond to the magnitude of the beak.

encroached upon by its muscular parietes

accords with its
antly provided by
agus and general width of the intestinal canal
There is no lateral dilatation or crop, nor is the gizzard so
as to render such a reservoir for the alimentar

y substances necessary.
The intestinal canal is equally devoid of lateral pouches

» or ceca: the gastric glands are of a simple form, and
are disposed, for the extent of an inch, around the termination of the cesophagus.

The communication of the
gizard with the proventriculus is free, and readil

y permits regurgitation to take place. This act has been
observed in two living species of Toucan (Ramphastos Erythrorhynchus and Ramph. Ariel, V igors); and as
the substances so regurgitated were, after undergoing a second mastication, again swallowed, it may be
compared to the rumination of herbivorous quadrupeds.

The intestinal canal does not exceed the length of the body, including the bill. The general structure
of the digestive apparatus of the Hornbill agrees with that of the Toucan.

The liver of the Toucan is composed of two lobes, of unequal size, joined by a small band, the margins of
the lobes being more rounded than usual. There is no gall-bladder, and in this deficiency the Toucan
manifests an affinity to the Picide and Psittacide, among the Scansores ; while the Hornbill, on the contrary,
resembles the Corvide in the large development of its biliary receptacle. A small hepatic duct enters the
duodenum near its commencement ; and a second duct, about two lines in diameter, passes to a more distant
part of the intestine, where it terminates close to the insertion of the two pancreatic ducts. eras

The kidneys are composed of three lobes, of which the middle one is the smallest ; their length is 1+ inch ;
their surface is convoluted, though in a less marked degree than in reptiles. Between the anterior extremities
of these glands, in a female specimen of Ramphastos Ariel, was situated the ovary, 2. a triangular shape, ane
apparently healthy in structure. The ova were like minute granules, and disposed n a un. aan
The supra-renal glands were imbedded in the posterior part of the ovary. The a ie - ae
a crow-quill; it commenced by the usual fimbriated and wide aperture, was slightly tortuous <
commencement, and then continued straight to the cloaca.

Among the varied forms of tongue which birds present, that of tl

: S, 1 ( OW tos Toco, was six inches.
rtur the e/ottis, in a full-grown Ramphas
it ce a ; ( hed; it was situated about 4 lines from the

papillose for the extent of 4 lines, and here,
an consists of a transparent horny /amina,

1e Toucan is one of the most remarkable.
The posterior

ridge, or backward-projecting process, was broad and finely note
glottis. Anterior to this process the tongue is soft and minutely
most probably, the sense of taste resides: the rest of the org

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