fubllance of the beak in the Toucans is extremely 

 flight, fo that no inconvenience refults to the rd 

 from its weight. It is remarkable that the ferratures 

 of the beak in thefe birds are placed forwards, and 

 are confequently not particularly calculated for 

 holding any objed which the bird may happen to 

 feize. It may alfo be obferved that the Toucans in 

 general feed only on fruits and vegetable fubftances, 

 and are not (as has fometimes been erroneoufly ima- 

 gined) of a predacious nature. The fize of the pre- 

 fent fpecies is nearly that of a pigeon. Like the 

 reft of its congeners, it is a native of South Ame- 

 rica. It fhould be added that the ftrudlure of the 

 tongue in the birds of this genus is fo extremely 

 curious as to be well worthy of particular attention; 

 fo exadiy refembling a feather that at firft fight it 

 might be regarded as fuch. It is reprefented on the 

 plate of fthe lize of nature. 



