Chap. V. 
CUYIER'S TOUCAN. 
337 
Toucan, a large bird, distinguished from its nearest rela- 
tives by the feathers at the bottom of the back being 
of a saffron hue instead of red. It is found more or 
less numerously throughout the year, as it breeds in 
the neighbourhood, laying its eggs in holes of trees, at 
a great height from the ground. During most months 
of the year, it is met with in, single individuals or small 
flocks, and the birds are then very wary. Sometimes 
one of these little bands of four or five is seen perched, 
for hours together, amongst the topmost branches of 
high trees, giving vent to their remarkably loud, shrill, 
yelping cries, one bird, mounted higher than the rest, 
acting, apparently, as leader of the inharmonious 
chorus ; but two of them are often heard yelping alter- 
nately, and in different notes. These cries have a 
vague resemblance to the syllables Tocano, Tocano, 
and hence the Indian name of this genus of birds. 
At these times it is difficult to get a shot at Toucans^ 
for their senses are so sharpened that they descry the 
hunter before he gets near the tree on which they are 
perched, although he may be half-concealed amongst 
the underwood, 150 feet below them. They stretch 
their necks downwards to look beneath, and on espying 
the least movement amongst the foliage, fly off to the 
more inaccessible parts of the forest. Solitary Toucans 
are sometimes met with at the same season, hopping 
silently up and down the larger boughs, and peering 
into crevices of the tree-trunks. They moult in the 
months from March to June, some individuals earlier, 
others later. This season of enforced quiet being 
passed, they make their appearance suddenly in the dry 
VOL. II. z 
