•^•*' Some Toucans. 



Coming principally from the equator, they recjuire an 

 a\!ar> witli a tciiipcra'urc of j-.o! less than 60 ¥ ., and froe 

 from draughts I keep my birds in an aviary heated with hot 

 water pipes, divided off into compartments 8ft. by 8ft.. or 

 8ft. by 6ft.. with a heig-ht of 7ft, in front, and i ift. at the 

 back, with a corridor in front of the compartments. Each 

 compartment is suitable for one or more of the larger 

 species. It is not advisable to mi.x the species. If kept in 

 la-g^er aviaries, the birds are liable to become very wild and 

 are then likely to injure themselves — I have lost some in 

 this way. In smaller places they lack the opportunity of 

 bathing to which they are very partial. In winter they 

 should not be allowed to have very cold water, as they 

 easily contract a chill, and their recovery is hopeless. 



In the type of aviary described above the birds be- 

 come exceedingly tame, and allow themselves to be handled, 

 in fact some of them appreciate the attention of their atend- 

 ant. 



In a natural state no doubt. Toucans feed almost 

 entirely on fruit and berries, but ia captivity this is not 

 practicable especially at the present time in this country 

 — fortunately they take kindly to most kinds of food, they 

 are practically omnivorous. I put aside all faulty and 

 simall potatoes, carrots, and fruit from the garden, not 

 useable for human consuption, which when boiled in their 

 skins and pounded up with a little, soft-bills' mixture is 

 readily eaten ; this, with "house scraps, young mice and 

 sparrows in season, appears to keep the birds in perfect 

 condition. 



They are ravenous for some kinds of fruit, particularly 

 bananas, grapes and cherries. 



