HABITS OF THE TOUCANS. ^^^ 



where the bill is black, with a blood-red base, and has a large buff-coloiired shield of horny 

 substance at each side of the upper mandible, the end next the base being fused into the 

 beak, and the other end free. The use of this singular, and I believe unique, appendage 

 is not known. 



The flight of the Toucan is quick, and the mode of carrying the head seems to vary in 

 different species, some holding their heads rather high, wdiile others suffer them to droop. 

 Writers on this subject, and indeed on every point in the history of these birds, are rather 

 contradictory ; and we may assume that each bird may vary its mode of flight or carriage 

 in order to suit its convenience at the time. On the ground they get along with a rather 

 awkward hopping movement, their legs being kept widely apart. In ascending a tree the 

 Toucan does not climb, but ascends by a series of jumps from one branch to another, and 

 has a great predilection for the very tops of the loftiest trees, where no missile except a 

 rifle ball can reach him. 



The voice of the Toucan is hoarse and rather disagreeable, and is in many cases rather 

 articulate. In one species the cry resembles the word " Tucano," which has given origin 

 to the peculiar name by which the whole group is designated. They have a habit of 

 sitting on the branches in flocks, having a sentinel to guard them, and are fond of lifting 

 up their beaks, clattering them together, and shouting hoarsely, from which custom the 

 natives term them Preacher-birds. Sometimes the whole party, including the sentinel, set 

 up a simultaneous yell, which is so deafeningly loud that it can be heard at the distance of 

 a mile. They are very loquacious birds, and are often discovered through their perpetual 

 chattering. 



Grotesque as is their appearance, they have a great hatred of birds who they think to 

 be uglier than themselves, and will surround and "mob" an unfortunate owl that by 

 chance has got into the daylight with as nmch zest as is displayed by our crows and 

 magpies at home under similar circumstances. While engaged in this amusement, they 

 get round the poor bird in a circle, and shout at him so, that wherever he turns he sees 

 nothing but great snapping bills, a number of tails bobbing regularly up and down, and 

 threatening gestures in every direction. 



In their wild state their food seems to be mostly of a vegetable nature, except in the 

 breeding season, when they repair to the nests of the white ant which have been softened 

 by the rain, break down the walls with their strong beaks, and devour the injects wholesale. 

 One writer says that during the breeding season they live exclusively on this diet. They 

 are very fond of oranges and guavas, and often make such havoc among the fruit-trees, 

 that they are shot by the owner, who revenges himself by eating them, as their flesh is 

 very delicate. In the cool time of the year they are killed in great numbers merely for 

 the purposes of the table. 



In domestication they feed on almost any substance, whether animal or vegetable, and 

 are very fond of mice and young birds, which they kill by a sharp grip of the tremendous 

 beak, and pull it to pieces as daintily as a jackdaw or magpie. One Toucan, belonging 

 to a friend, killed himself by eating too many ball-cartridges on board a man-of-war. As 

 the habits of most of these birds are very similar, only one species has been figured, for 

 the description of other species would necessarily have been limited to a mere detail of 

 colouring. 



Mr. Broderip has given a very interesting account of an Ariel Toucan and its habits, 

 which has been frequently quoted, but is so graphic a description that any work of this 

 nature would be incomplete without it : — 



"After looking at the bird which was the object of my visit, and which was apparently 

 in the highest state of health, I asked the proprietor to bring up a little bird, that I might 

 see how the Toucan would be affected by its appearance. He soon returned, bringing 

 with him a goldfinch, a last year's bird ; the instant he introduced his hand with the 

 goldfinch into the cage of the Toucan, the latter, which was on a perch, snatched it with 

 his bill. The poor little bird had only time to utter a short weak cry, for within a second 



