THE SEARCHERS. 12/ 



THE TOUCAN BARBET. 

 The Toucan Barbet {Tetragonops ramphastinits), an American species, may be regarded as 

 . the connecting link between the Barbets and Toucans. In these birds the powerful beak is square 

 at its base, and the lower mandible forked at its extremity in such a manner as to receive the hook in 

 which the upper portion of the bill terminates ; the wings and tail are both of moderate size, and the 

 latter much graduated ; the head, a band on the nape, the wing-covers, and tail are black ; the upper 

 portion of the tail is brownish grey, and its lower part of a yellowish hue ; the throat is adorned by a 

 triangular white spot ; the throat and sides of the belly are grey, and a line dividing the former from 

 the latter bright scarlet ; the centre of the breast is a rich fiery red. The eye is yellowish ; the beak 

 yellow at its base and black at its tip ; the feet are deep grey. This species is eight inches and a 

 quarter long; the wing measures four inches and the tail three inches and three-quarters. We are 

 entirely without particulars concerning this beautiful bird, except that it inhabits Ecuador. 



The HORNBILLS {Bucerotidm) are remarkable for the unusual size of their bills, which are 

 frequently so large as to appear almost a deformity ; in many species this effect is increased by a 

 singular, helmet-shaped excrescence at the base of the beak. The whole structure, which appears so 

 ponderous, is in reality very light, being composed of an outer case, supported by a bony net-work 

 filled with air ; so delicate is this helmet-like protuberance in some species, that after the death of the 

 bird it may readily be crushed with the thumb and finger. In shape this remarkable beak is long, 

 curved, and pointed ; the margins of the upper mandible are often irregularly incised. The feet, 

 which are stout and powerful, have the anterior toes more or less united. 



The TOUCANS {Ramphastidce) are a numerous race of South American birds, at once 

 recognisable by the prodigious size of their beaks, and by the richness of their plumage. 



" These birds," says the Prince von Wied, in some notes communicated to Mr. Gould, " are ver}' 

 common in all parts of the extensive forests of the Brazils, and are killed in great numbers during the 

 cool seasons of the year for the table. To the stranger they are even of greater interest than to the 

 native, from their remarkable form, and from the rich and strongly-contrasted style of their colouring, 

 their black or green bodies being adorned with markings of the most brilliant hue ; red or orange, 

 blue, and white ; their naked orbits in some instances red, and in others green or blue ; the naked 

 parts of the body dyed with brilliant colours, the legs blue or green, and irides blue or yellow ; the large 

 bill of a different colour in every species, and in many instances very gaily marked. The colouring of 

 the soft parts is, however, so evanescent that to determine the species with accuracy they must be 

 depicted during Hfe, or immediately after the birds are killed. Common as these birds are in their 

 native land, it is extremely difficult to detect their breeding-places ; it is, however, certain that they 

 deposit their eggs in the hollow limbs and holes of the colossal trees so common in the tropical 

 forests, but I was never fortunate enough to discover them. The stomachs of those I examined 

 contained nothing but the remains of fruit, principally of the softer kinds, for which, indeed, they 

 have such a liking that they resort in great numbers to the plantations in the vicinity of their native 

 haunts, and commit fearful havoc among their flivourite delicacies : I was informed, that they 

 frequently steal and eat young birds, but no instance of their doing so came under my o^\ti obser- 

 vation. Mr. Waterton's opinion agrees with mine, but Azara, among otliers, states that they also feed 

 upon animal substances. The specimens we saw in a state of domestication were very voracious, and 

 perfectly omnivorous ; but they seem to be purely frugivorous in a state of nature, a fact which was 

 fully confirmed .by the Brazilian natives we questioned on the subject. In their manners the 



