166 BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



There are several species of Toucans, some of which 

 are sombrely attired, but many of them are quite 

 richly coloured. They range in size from a rather 

 large thrush to about two feet in length. 



As in the Hornbills, the beak is extremely light and 

 porous, ensheathed in a very thin case of brightly 

 coloured horn, which is serrated, or notched, along the 

 cutting edges. They have the curious habit of sleep- 

 ing with the head turned back and the tail brought 

 forward, so that both rest on top of the back. 



Both Toucans and Hornbills are awkward on the 

 ground, hopping about with the legs far apart. In 

 the trees, they spring lightly from branch to branch. 

 They stare about them with a curious slow movement 

 of the head and beak from side to side, unlike that of 

 most birds, which is quick and rather jerky. All these 

 birds are fruit-eaters, but their diet is varied by in- 

 sects, as well as small birds and mammals. 



One of the largest of the Toucans is the Toco, or 

 Giant Toucan. It is widely distributed throughout 

 South America, and is met with in rather large flocks. 



The Short-billed Toucan is a smaller species, found 

 from Costa Rica to Northern Columbia. The plum- 

 age is black and red, and the bill is varied with red, 

 blue, green, and yellow. See Plate 9, Fig. 41. 



WOODPECKEES 



Woodpeckers are an extremely interesting group 

 of birds that illustrate to a remarkable degree what 

 is meant by "adaptation to environment." That is 

 to say, they show, by their many singularities of struc- 

 ture, that they have become changed, or "adapted," 



