340 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



of tlie bird being the bill itself and the anterior portion of the body, they form no obstacle, the wind 

 first taking effect upon the point of the bill. When in a state of repose, the Toucan carries its bill 

 rather more elevated than a horizontal line that would pass through the eyes, and when closely looked 

 at, it looks like a false bill, because its base exceeds the breadth of the head, which presents the appear- 

 ance of being enclosed in a case. In addition to these singularities, the nostrils are placed behind 



the aforesaid base. The 

 tongue is very narrow and 

 of an equal thickness 

 throughout. It is entirely 

 osseous, and resembles 

 somewhat a feather two 

 lines in width, furnished 

 with an osseous fringe, 

 which is directed from 

 behind forwards, so that 

 the tongue, stiff and un- 

 yielding, takes 110 part in 

 the direction of the food 

 nor in the formation of 

 the note, which, in the 

 first two Paraguayan 

 species, is confined to the 

 single syllable ' roe.' The 

 mandibles are very dis- 

 tinctly deiitated at their 

 edges, these dentations 

 not corresponding at all 

 above and below, nor are 

 they even relatively sym- 

 metrical. The beak itself 

 is a thin osseous sheath, 

 filled with a number of 

 empty cellules. The eye 

 is large, and surrounded 

 by a triangular naked 

 space, puffed up, and very 

 pretty. The foot is -very 

 short and stout, and 

 TOTJCAX. covered nearly to the heel 



with long scales, harsh to 



the touch. The outer toe, as well before as behind, is the longest. The claws are much flattened 

 and curved, as in the Woodpeckers. The tail is composed of ten feathers. The Toucan flies at 

 a moderate height, and in a straight horizontal line, flapping its wings occasionally with some 

 noise. The flight is quicker than the smallness of the wings would lead one to believe. It perches 

 towards the top of the highest trees, and though unable to climb after the manner of Woodpeckers, 

 it still progresses with speed, hopping from branch to branch. It pays great attention to all 

 that takes place in its vicinity, advancing with fear and diffidence, like the ' Uruca ' and the 

 ' Acahes.' There is no perceptible difference between the two sexes, nor do I believe that the 

 species exists towards the south beyond 28, nor that it drinks. It rarely settles on the ground. The 

 Toucan hops obliquely and very awkwardly, with the legs separated about a hand's breadth. When it 

 takes young birds from the nest, pieces of meat or fruit, it throws them in the air, as a juggler his 

 balls, and by a quick movement of the beak repeats this action until the food is in a favourable 

 position for being swallowed, and then by another movement gulps it down its large throat. If the 



