224 



VERTEBRATA. 



lilloil with air-(H'lU. TIk-v ;iro confined to tlic hot regions of South America, where tliey arc 

 abinnhmt. Thev hve in considerable flocks in tho forests, and sit in company on the trees, mak- 

 ing an ahoniinahly harsh noise. They arc omnivorous, feeding not only upon sweet pulpy fruits, 

 which have generally been considered to constitute their whole nourishment, but also upon ani- 

 mal inattei-s ot' various kinds, such as tish, eggs, small birds, and reptiles, and the Iarv;e of insects. 

 They are said usually to take their food up in the bill, and throwing it into the air, catch it again 

 with open mouth and swallow it directly. Tiiey make their nests in the hollows of trees, and 

 lav two eggs. When sleeping, they take good care of their bills and tails, burying the former in 

 their pliunaijo, and laying the latter flat over their backs, so that they appear like balls of feathers. 

 Thev have a very odd way of sitting upon the trees and moving their bills, at the same time 

 uttering an unceasing cry, whence they are called Preachers. Mr. Gould records no less than 

 twenty-two species; the following will give a general idea of the whole. 



Gmtis RIIAMPUASTOS : Rhamphassios. — To this belongs the Brazil Toucan, R. hccanus, 

 twenty inches long, the bill six inches; the upper parts are black, with bronze reflections, and 

 various markings of red, crimson, orange, and green. The brilliant feathers were formerly used 

 as decorations by the ladies of Peru and Brazil. 



The Ariel Toucan, R. arid — R. maximus of Cuvier — is black, with brown reflections, having 

 various splendid markings of orange, citron-green, and lively red ; it is twenty-one inches long ; 

 found in Brazil. 



Genus A HAJARI : Pferof/lossiis, includes the long-tailed species, in distinction from the pre- 

 ceding, which have short tails. To this belongs Humboldt's Ara5ari, P. Humboldtn, seven- 

 teen inches long ; bill four, tail graduated ; upper surface olive ; head, back of the neck, throat, 

 and chest black; under surfiice pale straw-yellow. Th.Q P. j)hmcinctus is twenty inches long ; 

 the bill four and a half. Both of the above are natives of Brazil. 



