28 DIVISION I. VERTEBRAL ANIMALS.—CLASS II. AVES. 
its throat and swallowing. What, however, was most extraordinary, it was 
never known to drink, though, when presented with a drop of water, at the 
end of a finger or straw, it would sip it, and it seemed to delight, when 
seated on its mistress’s or other person’s hand, to put its bill into their mouths 
and sip saliva. It delighted very much in heat, and sitting in the sunshine ; 
and its feathers were so much broken by striking them against the furniture, 
that it could fly but very imperfectly, and apparently very thankful to any per- 
son who would help it upon the first sash of the window. At other times 
it sat upon the fender, turning itself in various directions, and spreading its 
wings and feathers to receive the heat, of which it could bear a temperature 
equal to one hundred degrees, for a considerable time, with seeming satis- 
faction. During cold weather it slept at its mistress’s bedside, covered 
with a piece of flannel, which was well warmed, previous to its going to 
rest. With this attention, it generally remained quiescent till morning ; 
but, on feeling cold, sometimes presumed so far as to creep under the bed- 
clothes. 
“Tt was only to those from whom it had received some hurt or persecution 
that it expressed dislike or fear, which it did by raising its neck feathers and 
putting itself in an attitude of defence. It never uttered the ery of the male, 
—cuckoo,—but sometimes, when persons were in the room laughing, it would 
apparently join, and emit a noise somewhat like the barking of a little dog. 
At other times, the only sound it made was a kind of low-chattering expres- 
sion of pleasure when it got into a warm place, or on seeing its mistress 
after she had been absent some hours. It received the unlucky tramp, which 
finally killed it, from haying lost_too much the apprehension of injury.” 
(Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., 1842, p. 223.) 
Famity RHAMPHASTIDA. TOUCANS. 
The Lhamphastide are all natives of tropical America, where they live 
retired in the deep forests, mostly in small companies. Their flight is straight 
but laborious, and while on the wing the beak is raised and directed for- 
wards, so as to offer as little resistance as possible to the air. Among the 
branches of the trees their movements are easy and active; they appear to 
glide from branch to branch, and in this manner ascend to the very sum- 
mits. D’Azara states that the Toucans are, to a certain extent, omnivorous, 
living a great part of the year on fruits, but during the breeding season at- 
tacking the smaller birds in their nests, and devouring their eggs or their 
young. Even the eggs and young of the Macaws, and other large birds, 
often fall victims to their carnivorous propensities. 
Mr. Swainson, who had seen the Toucans in their native forests, was led 
to suspect the same fact, and informed Mr. Broderip that he had frequently 
