122 WANDERINGS IN 



JOURNEY. 



memory. There are three species of toucans in 

 Demerara, and three diminutives, which may be 

 called toucanets. The largest of the first species 

 frequents the mangrove trees on the sea-coast. 

 He is never seen in the interior till you reach 

 Macoushia, where he is found in the neighbour- 

 hood of the river Tacatou. The other two species 

 are very common. They feed entirely on the 

 fruits of the forest, and though of the pie kind, 

 never kill the young of other birds, or touch 

 carrion. The larger is called Bouradi by the 

 Indians, (which means nose,) .the other, Scirou. 

 They seem partial to each other's company, and 

 often resort to the same feeding tree, and retire 

 together to the same shady noon-day retreat. 

 They are very noisy in rainy weather at all hours 

 of the day, and in fair weather, at morn and eve. 

 The sound which the bouradi makes, is like the 

 clear yelping of a puppy dog, and you fancy he 

 says " pia-po-o-co," and thus the South American 

 Spaniards call him Piapoco. 



All the toucanets feed on the same trees on 

 which the toucan feeds, and every species of this 

 family of enormous bill, lays its eggs in the hollow 

 trees. They are social, but not gregarious. You 

 may sometimes see eight or ten in company, and 

 from this you would suppose they are gregarious ; 

 but, upon a closer examination, you will find it 

 has only been a dinner party, which breaks up and 

 disperses towards roosting time. 



