Ch. XL] USE OF TOUCAN'S BEAK. 197 



its resting-place, whilst its powerful beak protects it from 

 all enemies excepting man. In the smaller species of 

 parrots the beak is not sufficiently strong to protect them 

 from their enemies, and most of them are coloured green, 

 which makes them verv difficult to distinguish amongst 



* O O 



the leaves. I have been looking for several minutes 

 at a tree, in which were scores of small green parrots, 

 making an incessant noise, without being able to dis- 

 tinguish one ; and I recollect once in Australia firing at 

 what I thought was a solitary "green leek' parrot 

 amongst a bunch of leaves, and to my astonishment five 

 "green leeks' 1 fell to the ground, the whole bunch of 

 apparent leaves having been composed of them. The 

 bills of even the smallest parrots must, however, be very 

 useful to them to guard the entrances to their nests in 

 the holes of trees, in which they breed. 



I believe that the principal use of the long sharp bill 

 of the Toucan is also that of a weapon with which to 

 defend itself against all its enemies, especially when 

 nesting in the hole of a tree. Any predatory animal 

 must face this formidable beak if seeking to force an 

 entrance to the nest ; and I know by experience that the 

 toucan can use it with great quickness and effect. I 

 kept a young one of the largest Nicaraguan species 

 (Ramphasius tocard) for some time, until it one day came 

 within reach of and was killed by my monkey. It was 

 a most comical- looking bird when hopping about, and 

 though evidently partial to fruit, was eager after cock- 

 roaches and other insects ; its long bill being useful in 

 picking them out of crevices and corners. It used its 

 bill so dexterously that it was impossible to put one's 

 hand near it without being struck, and the blow 'would 



