A Toucan 
dance 
and finally came to the edge of the forest, where I 
quickly saw two Toucans sitting in the tops of an enormously 
tall tree quite out of range. Presently they ceased 
calling and flew into a trumpet tree where they were quickly 
joined by others which came from every direction as if 
they had met by appointment, until no less than seven 
were assembled. The trumpet tree resembles an overgrown 
castor oil plant. It has but few leaves which grow in clus¬ 
ters at the extreme ends of the terminal twigs and the 
branches as well as the main stem are perfectly bare and 
covered with a smooth grayish bark. Perhaps the Toucans 
had selected this tree on account of the peculiarities 
just named, for it was admirably adapted to the purpose 
for which it had evidently been chosen, viz. a general 
romp or frolic — or a dance, it might have been called. 
Each bird as soon as it alighted began hopping about as 
if it had gone crazy. Beginning at the base of a branch 
it would follow it out and upward to its tip, moving by 
a rapid succession of bounding jumps as if it were a big 
rubber ball or an overgrown Blue Jay. On reaching the end 
of the branch, it would spring or fly to the one next above 
or below. All seven birds were continually in motion. 
When two came together, they would fence and strike at 
each other with their huge bills until one was forced off 
his perch. Yet as far as I could make out they were playing. 
