TOCO TOUCAN. 507 



The colour of the Rhinoceros Hornbill is as follows : The general tint of tlie Ijodj^ is 

 dusky black, changing to greyish white below. The feathers of the head and neck are 

 long and loose, and more like hairs than feathers. The tail is of a greyish wliite, with a 

 bold black band running across it near the extremity. The enormous bill is generally of 

 a yellowish white colour, the npper mandible being of a beautiful red at its base, and the 

 lower mandible black. The helmet is coloured with black and white. The length of the 

 bill is about ten inches. 



Another species of this curious group is the White-crested Hornbill, a bird which 

 is remarkable for the peculiarity from which it derives its name. 



Although not nearly so large as the preceding species, it is a truly handsome bird, and, 

 except by an ornithologist, would hardly be recognised as belonging to the same group as 

 the rhinoceros Hornbill. Its beak, although very large in proportion to the rest of the 

 bird, is not so prominent a feature as in tlie other Hornbills, and its beautiful white fan- 

 shaped crest takes off much of the grotesque aspect which would otherwise be caused by 

 tlie large bill. Very little of the helmet is visible in this species, as it is of comparatively 

 small dimensions, and is hidden by the plumy crown wliich decorates the head. The tail 

 is very long, and, as will be seen by the engraving, is graduated and .coloured in a verj'' 

 bold manner, each feather being black except at the extreme tips, which are sno\vy white. 

 The general colour of this bird is deep, dull black, through which a few very small 

 white feathers protrude at distant intervals, the tail is black, each feather being tipped 

 with white, and the crest is white, with the exception of the black shaft and black tip of 

 each feather. 



The very curious birds that go by the name of Toucans are not one whit less 

 remarkable than the hornbills, their beak being often as extravagantly large, and their 

 colours by far superior. • They are inhabitants of America, the greater number of species 

 being found in the tropical regions of that country. 



Of these birds there are many species, of which no less than five were living in the 

 Zoological Gardens in a single year. Mr. Gould, in his magnificent work, the "Monograph 

 of the Rhamphastidi'B," figures fifty-one species, and ranks them under six genera. 



Unlike tlie hornbills, whose plumage is of a sober cast, the Toucans are gorgeously 

 clothed in every colour of the rainbow ; and from the peculiar texture of the feathers, 

 these brilliant tints possess a purity which is seldom seen elsewhere. There is hardly a 

 shade of colour which may not be found in these birds, whose plumage would give 

 admirable hints to the student of colouring. In some species, and often in the same 

 individual, the intensest carmine, azure, emerald-green, orange, and gold, may be seen 

 suddenly contrasted with jetty black and snowy white, while in others the feathers are 

 tinged with the softest and most delicate gTcy, lilac, pink, and primrose. Unfortunately, 

 many of these colours are so intimately connected with the life of the bird, that they 

 fade immediately after its death, and cannot be restored by any known art of man. 



In one species, the Curl-crested Ara^ari, the feathers of the head assume a most unicjue 

 and somewhat grotesque form, re'.ninding the observer of a coachman's wig dyed black. 

 On the top of the head the shafts of the feathers, instead of spreading out into webs, 

 become flattened, and are rolled into a profusion of bright shining curls, so that the 

 liird really appears to have been \inder the tongs of the hairdresser. Indeed, it appears 

 almost impossible that this singular arrangement of the feathers should not be the work 

 of art. 



The most extraordinary part of these birds is the enormous beak, which in some 

 species, such as the Toco Toucan, is of gigantic dimension.s, seeming big enough to give 

 its owner a perpetual headaclie, while in others, such as the Toucanets, it is not so large 

 as to attract much attention. 



As in the case of the hornbills, their beak is very thin and is strengthened by a vast 

 number of honeycomb-cells, .so that it is very light and does not incounn(jde the bird in 

 the least. In performing the usual duties of a beak, .such as picking up food and pluming 

 the feathers, this apparently unwieldy beak is used with perfect address, and even in 

 flight its weight does not incommode its owner. 



