1894
March 20  
Trinidad B.W.I.
Caparo 
  I started out early this morning with the
express intention of shooting a toucan. Rather curiously
 I had at once an opportunity which I did not
 improve and shortly afterwards a experience which is
probably rare for Mr. Chapman has seen nothing of
the kind, nor has Mr. Carr either for that matter
  It all happened in this [?]. I went first to
the ajoupa to get my collecting basket and while
there heard a toucan calling apparently at a considerable
distance. I started in the direction of the sound
but I had gone scarce twenty yards when I
became conscious that it came from nearly over head.
Looking up I at once saw the beautiful great bird
sitting in the top of a bois immortel its breast
turned towards the rising sun which brought out
the brilliant colouring of the plumage, the shining black [delete]and[/delete] of the large
bill and the blue of the [delete]blue[/delete] bare skin about the eyes with the
greatest distinctness. Here was my chance for the
bird was not thirty yards off but I simply
stood and stared at him with speechless wonder
and admiration until he finally flew when
the dense cacao foliage prevented my getting a shot
Clearly a case of Toucan "fever" but I did not regret
the episode.
  It was evidently a Toucan morning for I could
hear the birds calling in every direction. Selecting
one which, apparently, was [delete]evidently[delete] not far off I crossed
the road, waded knee deep through the grass &
weeds of an ill-kept cacao grove, and finally
came to the edge of the forest when I quickly
saw two Toucans sitting in the top of an