36 THE BEAK 



which was for some years kept in the Museum of 

 the Zoological Gardens in London, disposed of a 

 small bird. The moment the owner of the Toucan 

 introduced his hand with the small bird into the 

 cage, the Toucan, which was on its perch, snatched 

 it with its bill. The poor little bird was dead in an 

 instant, killed by the violence of the squeeze. As 

 soon as it was dead, the Toucan hopped with it, still 

 in its bill, to another perch, and then placing it with 

 his bill between his right foot and the perch, began 

 to strip off the feathers. When he had plucked 

 away most of them, he broke the bones of the 

 wings and legs (still holding the little bird in the 

 same position), with his bill, taking the limbs 

 therein, and giving at the same time a strong lateral 

 wrench. He continued this work with great dexte- 

 rity, till he had almost reduced the body to a shape- 

 less mass. He first ate all the soft parts, leaving 

 the larger bones to the last, which seemed to give 

 him more trouble, particularly the beak and legs. 



Beaks of Hornbills*. 



In the Buceros, or Hornbill, the beak is equally 

 monstrous, and rendered still more hideously dis- 



* Buceros, Violaceous, and Rhinoceros. 



