TOUCANS. 101 
the great wooded regions of Amazonia. They are easily recognised by 
the extraordinary shape and size of the bill, only rivalled by that of 
the Hornbills, and may be regarded as representing the latter birds in 
South America. In spite of its great bulk, the bill, though strong, is 
remarkably light, the thin external walls being supported by a delicate 
network of bony fibres, forming cells to which the air has constant 
access. ‘They feed chiefly on fruit, varying this diet with insects, eggs, 
and young birds. The peculiar long, very slender tongue, with barbed 
edges, is not adapted for conveying food to the pharynx, and each 
morsel is swallowed by throwing back the head and allowing it to drop 
into the gullet. In spite of their zygodactylous feet these birds do not 
climb like the Woodpeckers, but jump from branch to branch after the 
manner of Hornbills. Not only the long, soft plumage, but the bill 
and naked parts of the face are ornamented with the brightest colours. 
When roosting, Toucans have a remarkable habit of raising the tail and 
bending it forwards over the back, as shown in the mounted example 
of the Orange-breasted Toucan (Rhamphastos vitellinus) (1489). They 
are able to assume this position owing to the perfect ball-and-socket 
articulation of the caudal vertebrae. About sixty species are recognised 
and grouped into the five genera Rhamphastos, Andigena (1440-1442), 
Piteroglossus, Selenidera, and Aulacorhamphus, and all, so far as is known, 
deposit oval white eggs in the hollow limbs of tall trees; the young are 
hatched naked. The largest members belong to the genus Rhamphastos, 
of which R. toco (1486) is one of the most robust, and the most brilliant 
are the Aracaris (Pteroglossus) (1443-1449). The members of the genus 
Selenidera (1450-1451) are remarkable in having the plumage differently 
coloured in the male and female, and the Green Toucans (Auwlaco- 
rhamphus) (1462-1455) are at once recognisable by their uniform style 
of plumage, which imitates the colour of the forest-leaves. 
Family I]. Carrrontipa. Barserts, 
The members of this family are small, rather heavily-built birds, with 
a large stout bill, usually beset with strong black bristles, and generally 
with brilliantly-coloured plumage. They inhabit the forests and well- 
timbered districts throughout Tropical Asia, Africa, and America, and 
are strictly arboreal in their habits, hopping from branch to branch, 
and sometimes climbing up and down the trunk in search of insects. 
In their habits they are remarkably inactive, and often sit motionless 
for hours at a time, uttering their noisy ringing note, which may be 
heard at intervals throughout the day and on moonlight nights. In 
some species the sound is singularly metallic, and has gained for them 
such appropriate names as ‘‘Copper-smith ” (Xantholema hamato- 
[Case 65. | 
