372 HABITS OF THE TOUCANS. 



The beak partakes of the brilliant coloring which decorates the plumage, but its beauti- 

 ful hues are sadly evanescent, often disappearing or changing so thoroughly as to give no 

 intimation of their former beauty. The prevailing color seems to be yellow, and the next in 

 order is red, but there is hardly a hue that is not found on the beak of one or other of the 

 species. As examples of the coloring of the beaks, we will mention the following species. 

 In the Toco Toucan it is bright ruddy orange, with a large black oval spot near the extremity ; 

 in the Short-billed Toucan it is light green, edged and tipped with red ; in the Tocard Toucan 

 it is orange above and chocolate below ; in the Red-billed Toucan it is light scarlet and yellow ; 

 in Cuvier's Toucan it is bright yellow and black, with a lilac base ; in the Curl-crested Aracari 

 it is orange, blue, chocolate, and white ; in the Yellow-billed Toucan it is wholly of a creamy- 

 yellow, while in Azara's Aracari it is cream-white with a broad blood-red stripe along the 

 middle. Perhaps the most remarkable bill of all the species is found in the Laminated Hill 

 Toucan (Andigena lamindtus\ where the bill is black, with a blood-red base, Jftid has a large 

 buff-colored shield of horny substance at each side of the upper mandible, the end next the 

 base being fused into the beak, and the other end free. The use of this singular, and I believe 

 unique, appendage is not known. 



The flight of the Toucan is quick, and the mode of carrying the head seems to vary in 

 different species, some holding their heads rather high, while others suffer them to droop. 

 Writers on this subject, and indeed, on every point in the history of these birds, are rather 

 contradictory ; and we may assume that each bird may vary its mode of flight or carriage in 

 order to suit its convenience at the time. On the ground they get along with a rather awkward 

 hopping movement, their legs being kept widely apart. In ascending a tree the Toucan 

 does not climb, but ascends by a series of jumps from one branch to another, and has a great 

 predilection for the very tops of the loftiest trees, where no missile except a rifle ball can 

 reach him. 



The voice of the Toucan is hoarse and rather disagreeable, and is in many cases rather 

 articulate. In one species the cry resembles the word "Tucano," which has given origin to 

 the peculiar name by which the whole group is designated. They have a habit of sitting on 

 the branches in flocks, having a sentinel to guard them, and are fond of lifting up their beaks, 

 clattering them together, and shouting hoarsely, from which custom the natives term them 

 Preacher-birds. Sometimes the whole party, including the sentinel, set up a simultaneous 

 yell, which is so deafeningly loud that it can be heard at the distance of a mile. They are very 

 loquacious birds, and are often discovered through their perpetual chattering. 



Grotesque as is their appearance, they have a great hatred of birds which they think to be 

 uglier than themselves, and will surround and "mob" an unfortunate owl that by chance has 

 got into the daylight, with as much zest as is displayed by our crows and magpies at home 

 under similar circumstances. While engaged in this amusement, they get round the poor bird 

 in a circle, and shout at him so, that wherever he turns he sees nothing but great snapping 

 bills, a number of tails bobbing regularly up and down, and threatening gestures in every 

 direction. 



In their wild state their food seems to be mostly of a vegetable nature, except in the breed- 

 ing season, when they repair to the nests of the white ant which have been softened by the rain, 

 break down the walls with their strong beaks, and devour the insects wholesale. One writer 

 says that during the breeding season they live exclusively on this diet. They are very 

 fond of oranges and guavas, and often make such havoc among the fruit-trees, that they 

 are shot by the owner, who revenges himself by eating them, as their flesh is very delicate. 

 In the cool time of the year they are killed in great numbers merely for the purposes of the 

 table. 



In domestication they feed on almost any substance, whether animal or vegetable, and are 

 very fond of mice and young birds, which they kill by a sharp grip of the tremendous beak, 

 and pull to pieces as daintily as a jackdaw or magpie. One Toucan, belonging to a friend, 

 killed himself by eating too many ball-cartridges on board a man-of-war. As the habits of 

 most of these birds are very similar, only one species has been figured, for the description 

 of other species would necessarily have been limited to a mere detail of coloring. 



