126 



am ill a hurry and take his water pot out without 

 taking any notice of him, lie will seize my finger, 

 looking so angry as though he were going to bite it off, 

 and sometimes he will make believe to be in a great 

 rage and slash at my hand with his long beak, rather 

 like an energetic barber's assistant stropping a razor, 

 with more vigour than method ; it is a little alarming 

 till one gets used to it and knows it is all make- 

 believe, as he is most affectionate and gentle, and 

 never hurts you at all. 



As I live in London I have never had an oppor- 

 tunity of trying it, but I cannot imagine a bird better 

 adapted than a Toucan for running loose in a garden, 

 in the same way as some people keep a Jackdaw ; 

 though of course it would have to be sheltered at 

 night. It is a bird that has some ver}^ engaging ways 

 in a cage ; and I am sure, in comparative libert}^ 

 would develop many comic tricks. 



I should be very sorry to be without a Toucan of 

 some kind as they are very interesting birds; but 

 they are certainly not fit for the drawing room as 

 some writers would have us believe. 



Its plumage is varied and beautiful, and is briefly 

 as follows : back, tail, wing and top of head, black ; 

 red underparts ; pale canary bib with darker orange 

 in the centre ; naked part round eye, brick red, with 

 blue circle round eye ; beak, bluey green, with slight 

 red marking down middle and black at the base ; 

 rump, red ; feet, bluey grey. 



[The following is an original description by H. Goodcliild 

 of a specimen recently arrived at the Zoo, and which appears 

 to be rather more brilliant in plumage than the specimen 

 described above. Ed.] 



