220 
NATURAL HISTORY 
the tail. These volatiles, whose beauty exceeds that of 
all others, are natives of the Molucca islands, and are 
frequently seen in large flocks among the delightful and 
spicy woods of that country. 
The usual method of taking these birds is by shooting 
them with reed arrows; after which their legs are ampu- 
tated, their entrails taken out, and their bodies filled with 
spices, preparatory for sale to the Europeans. 
This bird’s feathers is a favourite ornament of the 
South American ladies. 
Toucan. ( ' Ramphastos . PI. 36.) This curious bird is 
almost twenty inches in length: the bill is six inches long, 
and near two inches thick at the base, being of a yellow- 
ish green colour, reddish at the tip. The nostrils are at 
the base of the bill, but are not covered with feathers, as 
in some of the species. The principal upper parts of the 
body, and the breast and neck are of a glossy black, with 
a tinge of green; the lower part of the back, the rump, 
upper part of the tail, and small feathers of the wings 
are the same, with a cast of ash-colour: the breast is of 
a fine orange. The belly, sides, thighs, and the short 
feathers of the tail are a bright red; the remainder of the 
tail is of a greenish black, tipped with red. The legs 
and claws are black. This bird is easily tamed, and 
will eat almost any thing offered to it: it generally feeds 
on fruits. 
The toucan builds its nest in the holes of trees, that 
are either formed by itself, or that from accident it meets 
with, and lays two eggs; and n© bird better secures its 
young from external injury. It has not only birds, men, 
and serpents to guard against, but a numerous train of 
monkies, still more prying, mischievous, and hungry, than 
all the rest. The toucan, however, sits in its hole, de- 
fending the entrance with its great beak; and if the mon- 
key venture to offer a visit of curiosity, the toucan gives 
him such a welcome, that he is soon glad to escape with 
safety. 
This bird is a native of Guinea and Brazil, and is said 
to be in great request in South America, both from the 
delicacy of its fle§h, and on account of the beauty of its 
