70 
or, at least, insensible to what is going on around it. It is, 
therefore, easily shot and many are killed for the table, its 
flesh being very good.'” There are some fifty species of Tro- 
gons, found in the warm regions of America, India, and Africa. 
The Toco Toucan {Ramphastos toco). 
Cuvier’s Toucan {Ramphastos cuviert). 
The Toucans are found only in tropical America, and will 
be readily recognized by the size and brilliant coloring of 
their bills, — large and unwieldy as these seem to be, they are 
in reality very light, being entirely filled with a honey-comb 
of air cells. The plumage is richly colored and has a peculiar 
satin-like softness of texture. The Toucans are in a measure 
carnivorous, and often prey upon smaller birds. 
“ Common as these birds are in their native wilds, it is ex- 
ceedingly difficult to detect their breeding places ; it is certain 
that they deposit their eggs in the hollow limbs and holes of 
the colossal trees so abundant in the tropical forests, but I 
was never so fortunate as to discover them. * * * * In 
their manners, the Ramphastidce offer some resemblance to 
the Corvidce and especially to the Magpies ; like them they 
are very troublesome to the birds of prey, particularly to the 
owls, which they surround and annoy by making a great noise, 
all the while jerking their tails upwards and downwards. The 
flight of these birds is easy and graceful, and they sweep with 
ease over the loftiest trees of their native forest.” (Prince 
Maximilian of Wied.) There are a number of species, beau- 
tifully illustrated by Mr. Gould in a “ Monograph of the 
Ramphastidse.” 
The Psittaci, comprising the Macaws, Parrots, Parrakeets, 
and Cockatoos, is a large and varied order of birds, found 
throughout tropical America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. 
Among them are some of the most splendid specimens of 
their class ; many of them learn to talk and imitate various 
sounds with great facility, and they are much kept as pets. 
The Macaws are exclusively American in distribution and 
have been referred to at page 36. 
The most beautiful birds, perhaps, of the order, come from 
the Australian region, where are found a great number of 
