454 CORACIIFORMES 



CHAr. 



open backwards behind the bill-sheath in R]iam2iliastus, iipwards 

 or sideways near the hind part of the culmen in the other genera ; 

 the syrinx is tracheo-bronchial ; the aftershaft is rudimentary or 

 absent ; and neither adults nor nestlings shew any down. 



The coloration of the long, loose plumage, and of the beak and 

 naked orbits, is most brilliant and varied; the females are smaller and 

 duller than the males, and quite unlike them in Selenidera ; while 

 the young resemble the former, but have softer and differently- 

 tinted bills. The feet are grey or green. Ptcroglossus heauharnaisi 

 has the black shafts of the crown-feathers dilated and coalescent 

 with the barbs, producing an appearance like curls of horn. 



Toucans, except just after moulting, are shy and restless ; they 

 are more or less gregarious, and small flocks gather to feed or 

 bathe in the morning or evening ; at noon they sit motionless on 

 some lofty tree, but at other times may be seen jumping about 

 the branches. At night they roost with the tail thrown forward 

 upon the back, and the head turned to meet it. Their flight 

 is easy, graceful, and direct, accompanied by occasional noisy flaps 

 of the wing, the bill being carried horizontally ; they rarely seek 

 the ground, where they hop about obliquely in awkward fashion. 

 All the species live chiefly on fruits, including seeds ; but Azara's 

 statement that they destroy small birds, and devour both eggs and 

 young, is possibly quite correct, as in captivity tliey exhibit 

 great excitement and delight when furnished with meat, mice, 

 reptiles, and so forth/ tearing the food to pieces and masticating 

 it with their serrated mandibles. Should, however, the object be 

 small, they throw back the head and swallow it at a gulp ; while a 

 curious habit has been observed of regurgitating the substances for 

 further mastication. Caterpillars, ants, and the like are added to 

 the diet in the breeding season. When feeding in company. Tou- 

 cans, like Eooks, post a sentinel, whose harsh, chattering scream can 

 be heard for at least a mile : they are especially noisy in the morn- 

 ing and evening, or in wet w^eather. The unmelodious cry seems to 

 vary considerably in the different species ; being described as a 

 croak, a hoarse note, a clear yelp, or a jarring sound like that of 

 a Mistletoe Thrush. Owls and diurnal Birds of prey are often 

 surrounded by a noisy mob of Toucans, which jerk their tails as they 

 follow. Two oval and somewhat glossy white eggs are deposited 

 in hollow limbs of tall trees. These birds are frequently eaten by 

 ^ See Broderiji, Zool. Journ. i. 1825, p. 484 ; A^igors, o-p. cit. ii. 1826, \^\ 466-483. 



