TOUCANS. 



441 



Toucans is their enormous beak. This is much longer than the 

 head, is curved at its extremity, dentated at its edges, and possesses 

 a projecting bone at the middle of the upper mandible. It is not so 

 heavy to bear, and incommodes the movements of the birds less 

 than might be supposed, for it is formed of a spongy tissue, the 

 numerous cells of which are filled with air. Thus it is very weak, 

 and does not serve to break or even to bruise fruits, notwith- 

 standing the idea one forms at first sight of its strength, for it is not 

 even capable of breaking off the bark of trees, as certain authors 



Fig. 169. Leadbeater's Cockatoo. 



have urged. This wonderful bill encloses a still more strange 

 tongue ; very straight and as long as the beak, which is covered on 

 each side with closely-packed barbs, similar to a feather, the use of 

 which remains to us a complete mystery. This curious instrument 

 so struck the naturalists of Brazil, where many Toucans are found, 

 that it furnished them with a name. In Brazilian toucan means 

 " feather." 



Toucans feed on fruits and insects ; they live in bands of from 

 six to ten in damp places where the palm-tree flourishes, for its fruit 

 is their favourite food. In eating they seize the fruit with the ex- 

 tremity of the beak, make it bounce up in the air, receive it then 



