HOMES OF TOUCANS 



201 



FIG. 56. SIDE VIEW OF TEN -DAY -OLD ARACARI 



Photo by P. G. H. 



forth two nestling toucans. These were the first that any orni- 

 thologist had ever seen, and as some facetious layman later 

 observed, it seemed hardly worth the trouble! They were 

 quite naked, a sickly leaden in hue, hideously wrinkled, their 

 movements vermian rather than birdlike. And as if the ocu- 

 lar offensiveness were not sufficient, they gave utterance un- 

 ceasingly to a raucous, irritating cry, long drawn out and 

 querulous. 



To us, their weird, uncouth characteristics made them 

 the more desirable. For years we had longed to lay eyes 

 upon nestling toucans, and now we found them with char- 

 acters beyond our utmost expectations. The rather psychic 

 fact that their penchant was for ugliness was only incidental. 

 Had they been equally beautiful they would have been no 

 less interesting. 



