1894
March 20
(No 2)
Trindad, B.W.I.
Caparo
enormously tall tree quite out of range. Presently
they ceased calling and flew into a trumpet tree
where they were quickly joined by others which came
from every direction as if they had met by appointment
until (until) no less than seven more assembled. The
trumpet tree resembles an overgrown castor oil plant.
It has but few leaves which grow in clusters at
the extreme ends of the [delete]branches[/delete] terminal twigs and
the branches as well as the main stem are perfectly
bare and covered with a smooth grayish bark.
Perhaps the Toucans had selected this tree on
account of the peculiarities just named for it
was admirably adapted to the purpose for which
it had evidently been [delete]selected[/deleted] chosen viz a general
romp or frolic - or a dance it might even be called.
Each bird as soon as it alighted began hopping about
as if it had gone crazy. Beginning at the base of a 
branch it would follow it out and upward to
its tip moving by a rapid succession of bounding
jumps as if it was a big rubber ball or an overgrown
Blue Jay. On reaching the end of the branch it
would spring or fly to the one next above or below.
All seven birds were continually in motion. When
two came together they would fence and strike
at each other with their huge bills until one
was forced off his perch. Yet as far as I could
make out they were playing, not fighting. The
sunlight struck full on the tree which was on a
hillside about 100 yards from where I stood. The dance
lasted about ten minutes. Toucans kept coming &
going during this period and at least a dozen or
[margin]A Toucan
dance[/margin]