M\< I'd 1' oncancttc . 
21 
My Pet Toiicaiiette. 
By K. Woodward. 
\Vc all have our favourite binl and mine is a Toucan or 
'J'oucanelte ( Aracari} called the " (Gentleman " and the freshest 
thinj4 1 ever owned, lie is now biting the pencil and my fingers 
as 1 try to compose this letter, but if the Editor wants my 
unscientific jottings, let us start at the beginning. Looking 
around a shoj) fifteen months ago, acquaintance was first struck 
up by scratching his head through the bars. The price was 
ascertained and somebody nearly died right there, and it wasn't 
the bird, but yet I knew he would be mine and he was next day. 
As it was a new importation the bird remained in this store for 
seasoning and 1 used to play with him until one time the 
inspector, witnessing the exhibition and the crowd which had 
gathered, voiced his objections to a stranger playing with the 
firm's property. Explanations were made and apologies accep- 
ted. The " (ientlenian " changed his boarding-house right 
there and then. The name was given by the butler who marv- 
elled at the variety and expense of his menu. One day he bit me, 
and made a wonderful job of it, as the nail of the first finger 
soon came off and I had " some " sore hand with a nasty saw 
cut across it. Petting ceased, and remained so for some months. 
He had my goat and I was afraid to touch hini. 
Six months elapsed when out of a clear sky I see a title 
flashed on the screen of a lady who tames birds and then by the 
movies she proves it. You can imagine my excitement when 
her subjects were shown to be Toucans. Naturally, the 
" Gentleman " went boarding out. He is back now and I am 
the boss, but what a bump of curiosity he possesses. Every- 
thing must be picked and pulled with his powerful beak and his 
investigations are liable to be very complete. Diamond rings, 
taking the finger along too, are his speciality. Watch chains 
and buttons are substitutes. Girls having none are not on his 
list of acquaintances. They are not, and are all afraid; further- 
more, the " Gentleman " knows it and goes for them. While I 
am shaving he sits on the arm of the mirror; eats his breakfast at 
the table, oatmeal, bread in coffee, fruit and butter balls. These 
latter he loves, and to take them away, slippery as they are, is 
