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210 BULLETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM
Family RAMPHASTIDAE
RAMPHASTOS TOCO Muller
Ramphastos Toco Muller, Natursyst., Suppl., 1776, p. S2. (Cayenne.)
A few of these toucans were seen at Resistencia, Chaco, during
early July, while at Las Palmas, in the same Territory, they were
common from July 13 to 31. An adult male was taken July 20.
The birds frequented the border of open forest or were found in
trees scattered through small openings. They ranged in little companies
of from three to six individuals and were rather wary.
In early morning it was common for them to perch in the top of
some tree to enjoy the heat of the sun, when if chance brought them
between the observer and the bright light their bills appeared trans-
lucent. Trees of various sorts that bore berries were frequented^
and in spite of the apparently clumsy bill, drupes were seized and
swallowed adroitly. On one occasion one descended to a perch on
a tree root fully 15 inches above the inky water of a lowland stream
in order to drink. It bent over gingerly, hestitating several times
before dipping the tip of the bill in the water, a caution directed
by the presence of savage fish and jacares (alligators). When a few
drops of water had been secured the head was thrown back and the
fluid swallowed. The call note of this species is a harsh rattling
grunt. Flight is accomplished by a succession of beats of the wings
followed by a short sail.
The specimen taken had the line of culmen, mandible, and side
of maxilla scarlet red; upper part of mandible wax yellow; tip of
mandible and line aroimd entire base of bill black ; bare skin around
eye orange chrome ; eyelids smalt blue surrounded by a line of light
cadmium; iris hazel; front of tarsus parrot gTeen; posterior face
of tarsus and toes Alice blue ; claws black.
Family PICIDAE
PICUMNUS CIRRATUS PILCOMAYENSIS Hargitt
Picumnus pilcomayensu Hargitt, Ibis, 1891, p. 606. (Rio Pilcomayo.)
Eight skins of the piculet that I have listed under this name repre-
sent two distinct forms, but at the present moment these can not be
separated successfully because of confusion existing with regard to
Hargitt 's designation of type for his Picwmnus pilcomayensis. In
the series mentioned three skins (and one alcoholic specimen) from
Resistencia and Las Palmas, Chaco (two males and two females),
differ constantly from five from the Riacho Pilaga (Kilometer 182).
Formosa, and Puerto Pinasco, Paraguay (four males and one
female), in heavier barring of the undersurface that covers the entire
foreneck and lower throat, leavins: the chin alone white. In the