362 SCANSOEES. 



from the deep hanging nests found in the regions which they in- 

 habit, they use their enormous beaks, the surface of which is 

 endowed with sensibility, enabling them to explore the contents 

 of these nests. It is said these birds are remarkably fond of 

 bathing in cold weather. They nestle in the hollows of trees, 

 laying two white and delicately rounded eggs. 



The Toucan takes great care of his bill, packing it away and 

 covering it carefully with the feathers of its back before sleep- 

 ing, when it exhibits the appearance of a large round ball of 

 feathers. 



Mr. Gould arranges the Toucans into two sections; (1.) the 

 TOUCANS proper, Rampliastos^ (from Gr. ramphos, a beak,) in- 

 cluding eleven species; (2.) the ARACARIS, Pteroglossus, (Gr. 

 pteron, wing; glossa, a tongue.) 



In the former the beak is without grooves ; but in the latter it 

 is notched at wide intervals. The tail in the Aracaris is shorter 

 than in the Toucans proper, and is graduated instead of squared. 



The true Toucans are generally black on the upper parts, 

 with vivid colors, chiefly red and yellow, on the throat and breast. 

 The beak is often tinted with brilliant hues which vanish after 

 death. The TOUCAN, R. Toco, (see Chart,) is one of the largest of 

 this section, being twenty-seven inches in. total length, of which 

 the beak is seven inches and a half. It ranges from the River 

 La Plata to Guiana. 



The KEEL-BEAKED TOUCAN, R. carinatus, (Lat. carina, a keel,) 

 is conspicuous for the number and brilliancy of the hues adorning 

 its beak, which is keeled along the upper edge. 



The ARACARI, P. pluricinctus, (Lat. many-girdled.) has the 

 breast marked with two broad bands of black, the upper sepa- 

 rated from the throat by an intervening space of yellow, dashed 

 with red ; a similar but .broader space separates the two bands of 

 black, the lower of which is bounded by scarlet, advancing as 

 far as the thighs, which are brownish olive. The total length is 

 twenty inches ; the bill four inches and a half. It is a native of 

 Brazil. 



SECOND FAMILY. PARROTS. 

 Psittacidce, (Gr. ylTjaxog, psittakos, a parrot.) 



These birds are remarkable for their beautiful colors, their 

 powerful bill, their fleshy tongue, and their imitation of the 

 human voice. The articulation of some of the species is so per- 

 fect, that when unseen, it is difficult to suppose that Jhe words 

 pronounced do not come from the mouth of man. The power of 



