346 FOREIGN BIRDS. 



From the fertile, moist meadow, palm grove pic- 

 turesque, 



Came the splendid Toucans (* 4 ) with bills huge and 

 grotesque. 



Toucanets, mewing Cat-Birds, and Cocks of the 

 Rock, 



All fearlessly mix'd with the feathery flock. 



The Night-Raven's note, Qua, was oft heard 'midst 

 the throng ; 



The huge Adjutant stalk'd the grallators among. 



( 2 *) Order, Pic^e, (Linn.) Toucan, the Yellow-breasted, 

 the Green, Toucanets. 



The genus Ramphastos, (Linn.) or Toucan, comprehends 

 eighteen species, distinguished by an enormous convex bill, 

 which has a most grotesque appearance, being something like 

 the shape of a mask with a large and long nose, constructed to 

 surprise and frighten children ; the tongue is not less singular 

 than the bill, exactly resembling a feather shut up in a large 

 case. They belong to the scausorial tribe, and have, like the 

 parrots, two toes before and two behind. They make much 

 noise, particularly a hissing sound, which is heard at a conside- 

 rable distance. They build in the holes of trees, which have 

 been scooped out by the woodpecker. They lay only two eggs; 

 they are spread over all the warm, parts of America, and, being 

 very sensible to cold, never quit it. They feed, it is said, prin- 

 cipally upon the fruit of the palm tree, and swallow their food 

 whole ; but the latest observations on the food of this tribe tend 

 to shew that, during the season of incubation, at least, they feed 

 on the eggs and young]of other birds. The feathers of the toucan 

 are greatly admired by the Brazilians, who make them up into 

 articles of dress. The following are the chief : 



The Tucanus, or Yellow-breasted-Toucan, is blackish ; 

 abdominal band, vent, and rump, yellow ; cheeks, chin, and 



