RED-BEAKED TOUCAN. 
into each other, or even correspond in their re- 
lative positions. The tongue of the Toucan 
is, if possible, still more wonderful than the 
bill. It is the only bird which may be said to 
have a feather instead of a tongue: for a fea- 
ther it certainly is, though the shaft be a carti- 
laginous substance. The Toucan, however, 
is not mute; but utters a sort of whistling, with 
so quick a reiteration, and with such continu- 
ance, that it has been denominated the Preach- 
ing Bird. 
Toucans are scattered throurfi all the warm 
parts of South America, but never appear in 
the ancient continents. They flit ratlicr than 
migrate: following the maturity of the fruits 
on which they feed, particularly those of the 
palm. These trees flourishing most in wot 
situations, the Toucans resort to such spots ; 
and, sometimes, tliey even lodge on the man- 
groves, which grow in deluged mud. Hence, 
fiays Bufi:on, it has been imagined that they 
devour fishes: but, at least, they must be very 
small, since these birds are obliged to swallow 
all their food entire. Thev generally go in 
ijuiall bodies of from six to len; and, owing 
to 
