O B S E R V A T I O N S
THE ANATOMY OF THE TOUCAN.
m«1
I
T h e organs of digestion in the Toucan present a general simplicity of structure, which accords with its
geographical position and power of assimilating both animal and vegetable food, so abundantly provided by
Nature in a tropical climate. The amplitude of the oesophagus and general width of the intestinal canal
correspond to the magnitude of the beak. There is no lateral dilatation or crop, nor is the gizzard so
encroached upon by its muscular parietes as to render such a reservoir for the alimentary substances necessary.
The intestinal canal is equally devoid of lateral pouches, or caca: the gastric glands are of a simple form, and
are disposed, for the extent of an inch, around the termination of the oesophagus. The communication of the
gizzard with the proventriculus is free, and readily permits regurgitation to take place. This act has been
observed in two living species of Toucan (Ramphastos Erythrorhynchus and Ramph. Ariel, Vigors); 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 Pícidas and Psittacida, among the Scansores ; while the Hornbill, on the contrary,
resembles the Córvida 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.
The kidneys are composed of three lobes, of which the middle one is the smallest; their length is l i 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, of a triangular shape, and
apparently healthy in structure. The ova were like minute granules, and disposed in a convoluted manner.
The supra-renal glands were imbedded in the posterior part of the ovary. The oviduct was as large as
a crow-quill; it commenced by the usual fimbriated and wide aperture, was slightly tortuous at the
commencement, and then continued straight to the cloaca.
Among the varied forms of tongue which birds present, that of the Toucan is one of the most remarkable.
Its length from the aperture of the glottis, in a full-grown Ramphastos Toco, was six inches. The posterior
ridge, or backward-projecting process, was broad and finely notched; it was situated about 4 lines from the
glottis. Anterior to this process the tongue is soft and minutely papillose for the extent of 4 lines, and here,
most probably, the sense of taste resides: the rest of the organ consists of a transparent horny lamina,
w m
mIB
¡ t i l l
p i
I I
,