THE TOUCAN. 409 



vegetable matters, and Lesson remarks that those species which in- 

 habit Africa live on carrion, while those that are found in Asia feed 

 on fruits, and that their ilesh acquires thereby an agreeable and 

 peculiar flavor. While on the ground the movements of the Hornbill 

 are rather peculiar, for instead of walking soberly along, as might be 

 expected from a bird of its size, it hops along by a succession of jumps. 

 It is but seldom seen on the ground, preferring the trunks of trees, 

 which its pow^erful feet are well calculated to clasp firmly. 



The' very curious birds that go by the namQ of Toucans are not 

 one whit less remarkable than hornbills, their beak being often as 

 extravagantly large, and their 

 colors by far superior. They are 

 inhabitants of America, the great- 

 er number of species being found 

 in the tropical regions of that 

 country. 



Of these birds there are many 

 species, of which no less than five 

 were living in the Zoological Gar- 

 dens in a single year. Mr. Gould, 

 in his magnificent work the Mon- 

 ograph of the Rhampliastidcp, fig- 

 ures fifty-one species, and ranks 

 them under six genera. 



The most extraordinary part of 

 these birds is the enormous beak. The Toucan {Rhamphastos Arid). 

 which in some species, such as the Toco Toucan, is of gigantic di- 

 mensions, seeming big enough to give its owner a perpetual headache; 

 while in others, such as the Toucanets, it is not so large as to attract 

 much attention. As in the case of the hornbills, their beak is very 

 thin and is strengthened by a vast number of honeycomb-cells, so that 

 it is very light and does not incommode the bird in the least. The 

 beak partakes of the brilliant coloring which decorates the plumage, but 

 its beautiful hues are sadly evanescent, often disappearing or chang- 

 ing so thoroughly as to give no intimation of their former beauty. 



The voice of the Toucan is hoarse and rather disagreeable, and is 

 in many cases rather articulate. In one species the cry resembles the 

 word " tucano," which has given origin to the peculiar name by which 

 the whole group is designated. The birds have a habit of sitting on 

 the branches in flocks, having a sentinel to guard them, and are fond 

 of lifting up their beaks, clattering them together, and shouting hoarse- 

 ly ; from which custom the natives term them preacher-birds. Sometimes 

 the whole party, including the sentinel, set up a simultaneous yell, 

 which is so deafeningly loud that it can be heard at the distance of a 



35 



