f 24 ) 



Toe Brafilian Fie, Toucan, 



Numb. XXV. 



THIS Bird is little bigger than the common Magpie, the Head, Neck, and upper 

 Part of the Back towards the Neck are black ; the reft of the Back and Wings 

 fhew fomething of a cinereous whitenels j The Breaft fhines with a moft bright and 

 lovely gold or faffron Colour with a certain rednefs near the Beginning ; the Belly 

 and Thighs of a moft beautiful vermilion or fcarlet Colour : The red Colour reaches 

 almoft half way of the Tail, and is intercepted by a broad Bar of black, and ending 

 in a beautiful red ; the Legs, Feet, and Claws, are black. 



Its Bill is very large, confidering the Bignefs of the Bird : Its Length was fix Inches ; 

 Breadth at the upper part towards the Head two Inches and a quarter ; the Circumference 

 at the fame Place five Inces and a half; the upper Chap is large and fomewhat hooked 

 with a Cavity exadlly fitting the under Chap, both cerate or toothed, and of a thin 

 bony Subftance, and a covering over that of a horny like Scale, both very thin and 

 light, weighing but eight Drams ; It was of a yellowiih Colour clouded with a darkilh 

 green : towards the End or Point redifh ; its Noftrils were fituate juft above the horny 

 Subftance of the Bill, adjoining to the Head, which is large and thick, as is fuitable 

 and requifite to fuftain a Bill of that Length and Bignefs: They are faid to build 

 their Nefts in Holes they make in the Trees where they fecure their Young ones 

 from the Monkeys, after this manner; when ftie perceives the Approach of thofe 

 Enemies, fte fo fettles herlelf in her Neft as to put her Bill out at the Hole, and 

 gives the Monkies fuch an unwelcome Reception, that they prefently withdraw and 

 glad they efcape fo : From this Quality of making Holes in Trees, this Bird is called 

 by the Spaniard, Carpentero, and by the Brajilians, Tacataca, in Imitation, I fuppofe, 

 of the Sound it makes. 



It feeds upon almoft all the fame Things which 'Parrots do, but was moft greedy of 

 Grapes, which being pluckt off one by one, and toffed to it, it would moft dextroufly 

 catch in the Air before they fell to the Ground; the Flefh of the whole Body was 

 of a deep violet Colour. 



This Bird I faw in the Colledtion of Thomas Walker^ Apothecary, in Crooked- 

 Lane, London. I likewife have one of the Bills now by me while I writ this De- 

 fcription. * 



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