Chap. V. CUVIER'S TOUCAN. 337 



Toucan, a large bird, distinguished from its nearest rela- 

 tives by the feathers at the bottom of the back being 

 of a saffron hue instead of red. It is found more or 

 less numerously throughout the year, as it breeds in 

 the neighbourhood, laying its eggs in holes of trees, at 

 a great height from the ground. During most months 

 of the year, it is met with in single individuals or small 

 flocks, and the birds are then very wary. Sometimes 

 one of these little bands of four or five is seen perched, 

 for hours together, amongst the topmost branches of 

 high trees, giving vent to their remarkably loud, shrill, 

 yelping cries, one bird, mounted higher than the rest, 

 acting, apparently, as leader of the inharmonious 

 chorus ; but two of them are often heard yelping alter- 

 nately, and in different notes. These cries have a 

 vague resemblance to the syllables Tocano, Tocano, 

 and hence the Indian name of this genus of birds. 

 At these times it is. difficult to get a shot at Toucans, 

 for their senses are so sharpened that they descry the 

 hunter before he gets near the tree on which they are 

 perched, although he may be half-concealed amongst 

 the underwood, 150 feet below them. They stretch 

 their necks downwards to look beneath, and on espying 

 the least movement amongst the foliage, fly off to the 

 more inaccessible parts of the forest. Solitary Toucans 

 are sometimes met with at the same season, hopping 

 silently up and down the larger boughs, and peering 

 into crevices of the tree-trunks. They moult in the 

 months from March to June, some individuals earlier, 

 others later. This season of enforced quiet being 

 passed, they make their appearance suddenly in the dry 



VOL. II. Z 



