47 



Westminster, to whose liberality I am indebted for 

 many of the rare productions of New Holland : it 

 was received from Port Jackson, where it was killed 

 by Colonel Johnson, and the only one known to have 

 been killed at the colony. 



TOUCANS (RAMPHASTOS), 



This Case contains twelve of these highly singular 

 birds, among which are the following : 



White-throated Towcaw (Ram phastos Toco). Male 

 and Female. 



The bill of this curious bird is of a most uncommon 

 size, being nearly as large as the whole body, which 

 gives the bird somewhat the appearance of having 

 thrust its head into the claw of a large lobster; this 

 extraordinary bill is seven inches and a half long, and 

 seven in circumference ; it is extremely slight, and as 

 thin as parchment. This bird, so formidable in ap- 

 pearance, is quite harmless and gentle ; it feeds prin- 

 cipally on pepper, which it devours very greedily, 

 gorging itself in such a manner, that it voids it crude 

 and unconcocted ; this, however, is no objection to the 

 natives using it again. They even prefer it to that 

 which is fresh gathered from the tree; and seem per- 

 suaded that the strength and heat of the pepper is 

 qualified by the bird, and that all its noxious qualities 

 are thus exhausted. It is a native of South America. 



