THE PIE KIND. 117 



oojeclion to the natives using it again ; they even prefer it before that 

 pepper which is fresli gathered from the tree, and seem persuaded 

 that the strength and heat of the pepper is qualified by the bird, and 

 that all its noxious qualities are thus exhausted. 



Whatever be the truth of this report, nothing is more certain than 

 that the toucan iives only upon a vegetable diet ; and in a domestic 

 state, to which it is frequently brought in the warm countries where 

 t is bred, it is seen to prefer such food to all other. Pozzo, who bred 

 one tame, asserts, that it leaped up and down, wagged the tail, and 

 cried with a voice resembling that of a magpie. It fed upon the same 

 things that parrots do, but was most greedy of grapes, which being 

 plucked off one by one, and thrown into the air, it would most dex- 

 terously catch before they fell to the ground. Its bill, he adds, was 

 hollow, and upon that account very light, so that it had but little 

 strength in so apparently formidable a weapon ; nor could it peck or 

 strike smartly therewith. But its tongue seemed to assist the efforts 

 of this unwieldy machine : it was long, thin, and flat, not unlike one 

 of the feathers on the neck of a dunghill cock ; this it moved up and 

 down, and often extended five or six inches from the bill. It was of 

 a flesh colour, and very remarkably fringed on each side with very 

 small filaments, exactly resembling a feather. 



It is probable that this long tongue has greater strength than the 

 thin hollow beak that contains it. It is likely that the beak is only a 

 kind of sheath for this peculiar instrument, used by the toucan, not 

 only in making itself a nest, but also in obtaining its provision. No- 

 thing is more certain than that this bird builds its nest in holes of 

 trees, which have been previously scooped out for this purpose, and 

 it is not very likely that so feeble a bill could be very serviceable in 

 working upon such hard materials. 



Be this as it will, there is no bird secures its young better from ex- 

 ternal injury than the toucan. It has not only birds, men, and ser- 

 pents to guard against, but a numerous tribe of monkeys, still more 

 preying, mischievous, and hungry than all the rest. The toucan, 

 however, scoops out its nest in the hollow of some trees, leaving only 

 a hole large enough to go in and out at. There it sits, with its great 

 beak, guarding the entrance, and if the monkey ventures to offer a 

 visit of curiosity, the toucan gives him such a welcome, that he pre- 

 sently thinks proper to pack off, and is glad to escape with safety. 



This bird is only found in the warm climates of South America, 

 where it is in great request, both for the delicacy of its flesh, which 

 is tender and nourishing, and for the beauty of its plumage, particu- 

 larly the feathers of the breast. The skin of this part the Indians 

 pluck off, and when dry, glue to their cheeks, ard this they consider 

 as an irresistible addition to their beauty. 



Vo L . HI. K 



