170 HISTORY 0> 



breast and belly are blue ; the head green ; and the wings varie- 

 gated with blue, black, and white. But it may be distinguished 

 from all others by a sort of naked tubercles or warts near the 

 eyes, which still farther contribute to increase its beauty. 



To this class may be added a numerous list from all the 

 iropicai forests of the east and west ; where the birds are re- 

 markable for discordant voices and brilliant plumage. I will 

 fix only upon one, which is the most singular of all the feathered 

 creation. This is the Toucan, a bird of the pie kind, whose bill 

 is nearly as large as the rest of its whole body. 



Of this extraordinary bird there are four or five varieties. I 

 will only describe the red-beaked toucan ; and as the figure of 

 this bird makes the principal part of its history, I will follow 

 Edwards through all the minutiae of its singular conformation. 

 It is about the size of, and shaped like a jackdaw, with a large 

 head to support its monstrous bill ; this bill, from the angles of 

 the mouth to its point, is six inches and a half; and its breadth, 

 in the thickest part, is a little more than two. Its thickness 

 near the head, is one inch and a quarter ; and it is a little rounded 



mate very impudently jumps into the saucer to wash herself, throwing the 

 water in showers over lier companion, who bears it aU patiently ; ventur- 

 ing now and then to take a sip between every splash, without betraying the 

 smallest token of irritation. On tlie contrary, he seems to take pleasure in 

 his little fellow-prisoner, allowing liei- to pick (\xhich she does very gently) 

 about his whiskers, and to clean his claws from the minute fragments of 

 chestnuts which happen to adhere to them. Tliis attachment on the one 

 part, and mild condescension on the other, may perliaps, be partly the effect 

 of mutual misfortune?, which are found not only to knit mankind, but many 

 species of inferior animals, more closely together : and shows that the dis. 

 position of the blue jay may be humanized, and rendered susceptible of af. 

 fectionate impressions, even for those birds which, in a state of nature, lie 

 ivould have no hesitation in making a meal of 



He. is not only bold and vociferous, but possesses a con>jdcrable talen 

 for mimicry, and seems to enjoy great satisfaction in mocking and teasing 

 other birds, particularly the little hawk (/ Sparverius,) imitating his cry 

 k. herever he sees him. and squealing out as if caught : this soon brings t 

 number of his own tribe around him, who all join in the frolic, darting about 

 the hawk, and feigning the cries of a bird sorely wounded, and already un- 

 f'er the clutches of its devourer; while others lie concealed in bushes, ready 

 to second their associates in the attack. But this ludicrous farce often ter- 

 minates tragically. The hawk, singling out one of the most insolent and 

 provoking, sweeps upon him in the unguarded moment, and ofl'ers him up a 

 sacrifice to his hunger and resentment. In an instant the tune is chang,-J ; 

 an their buffoonery vanishes, ajid loud and incessant screams proclaim tlieir 

 di^iaster. 



