82 DESCRIPTIONS OF THE GROUPS OP BIRDS 



press use of their singularly formed bill is deemed to be for 

 insertion into the deep pensile nests which abound in their 

 indigenous locality ; the sensitiveness of this organ having 

 reference to the same object, by enabling them to feel the 

 contents. Azara relates that they devour a prodigious num- 

 ber of young birds, upon which, and on eggs, they subsist 

 principally during the season ; and he states that, after rain, 

 they will descend and demolish the mud-built domed nests of 

 the ant- catchers, which are so firm as to withstand the wea- 

 ther for years : he adds that they have been known to rob 

 those of the caracaras (Polyborus). For the rest of the year, 

 continues the same Spanish naturalist, the toucans maintain 

 a rigid and protracted lent, feeding only on fruit and other 

 vegetable produce : though it is not to be supposed but that 

 they likewise prey on caterpillars, and any other small ani- 

 mal food that may fall in their way. Linnaeus even applied 

 the term piscivorus to one of the species : but I am unaware 

 that the information on which this rested has ever been con- 

 firmed. 



Of toucans that have been brought up tame, it has al- 

 ways been remarked that a decided preference is evinced for 

 animal over vegetable diet ; and so eagerly, even gloatingly, 

 do they pounce upon a small bird or quadruped whenever 

 such prey is offered to them, as to remove all doubt that they 

 have a natural carnivorous propensity, which, notwithstand- 

 ing the foregoing direct testimony of Azara, and of others 

 equally worthy of credit, has been denied by some who have 

 studied them in their native abode. The sight of such prey 

 immediately rouses them into a state of violent excitement : 

 and a captive individual being presented, by Mr. Broderip, 

 with a small bird, it snatched it with its bill, and killed it in- 

 stantly by the violence of the squeeze, which was so powerful 

 as to cause the bowels to, protrude. As soon as it was dead, 

 the toucan hopped with it, still in its bill, to another perch, 

 and then placing it between one foot and the perch, began to 

 strip off the feathers. When it had plucked away most of 

 them, it broke the bones of the wings and legs (still holding 

 it in the same position) with its bill, taking the limbs therein, 

 and giving at the same time a strong lateral wrench : conti- 

 nuing this work with great dexterity, till it had almost redu- 

 ced the body to a shapeless mass. It then first ate all the 

 soft parts, leaving the larger bones to the last, which seemed 

 to give it more trouble, particularly the beak and legs. From 

 the deportment of the animal, the flavour of its prey seemed 

 to impart the most keen sense of enjoyment, such as was ne- 

 ver manifested when it fed on fruit or vegetables ; and it even 



