NATURAL HISTORY. 
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W 
tuarlifl have thoug^it, but crroncouny, that 
the toucan had no noflrils ; this miftake, in 
all probability originated from their being 
placed in the upper part of the bill, and, con- 
ieqiiently, neatly covered with feathers. 
Between the white on the breaft, and the 
black on the belly are a number of red fea- 
thers, moft beautifully formed in the Ihape of 
a crefeent, with the horns pointing upwards. 
The toes are difpofed' in the fame manner as 
thole of the parrot, two before and two be- 
hind. 
' The toucan is fo cafily tamed, that it will 
hatch and rear its young in houfes. Its chief 
food is pepper, which it is laid to devour like 
a glutton. Pozzo, wdio bred one of thefc 
birds, fays, that it refembles a magpie both 
in voice and motion. Naturalifts feem to 
think, that the toucan ufes its tongue to all 
thofe purpofes for which other birds ule their 
bills. This naturally accounts for the thin- 
nefs of the beak, which feems only calculated 
asaflieath for the tongue, which is very large 
and ftrono-. 
O 
This bird inhabits only the warm climates 
of South- America, where it is much efteem- 
cd for the delicacy of its flcfh, and bca*uty of 
plumage. The feathers of the breaR arc par- 
ticularly admired among the Indians, who 
pluck them from this part of the.,||Qcin, and, 
when dry, glue them to their elites, which 
they reckon an irreliltible addition to female 
beauty. 
When 
