50 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



stolen off uuperceived, but on throwing a stone into the tree a dozen 

 voices burst forth into cry, and as many green birds dart forth upon 

 the wing." 



The gorgeous macaws, on the other hand, seem to owe their color 

 contrasts to sexual selection. " Ya son vencidos los pavos de India " 

 — " That does beat a Hindostan peacock " — exclaimed King Ferdi- 

 nand, when Columbus introduced those most splendid products of the 

 American tropics. 



Nor can the exigencies of protection have evolved the glaring 

 colors of the West Indian hornbill. The toco (toucan), as the Cubans 

 call the yellow-billed species, can be descried from a distance of two 

 hundred yards, and is, indeed, not anxious to be admired at close 

 range. Old specimens get as wary as mountain ravens, but, like 



The Smallkst Biki). 



crows, become ridiculously tame in captivity, and will follow their 

 proprietors with loud croaks, every now and then opening their lunch- 

 trap to indicate their desire for refreshment. They are, on the whole, 

 the hardiest of all tropical birds, and can weather the winters of our 

 coast towns as far north as Wilmington, in open-air cages, owing 

 perhaps to their habit of extending their excursions to the high moun- 

 tain ranges of their native land. 



Economical N^ature rarely wastes the gift of song on a bird of 

 bright plumage, but it is less easy to understand why so many feath- 

 ered beauties should have been afflicted with harsh and positively 

 repulsive voices. The horrid screams of the peacocks, guinea hens, 

 and macaws can hardly be supposed to charm their mates, and are 

 too easily recognized to deter their natural enemies. But the roars 

 (there is no more adequate word) of some species of hornbills would 

 almost seem intended to serve the latter purpose. 



