18 
INTRODUCTION. 
hollows of trees. It may be so in many cases and with some species. The only nest we ever saw, which 
was of the Toco Toucan, was in the fork of a large tree, over the water, upon the Amazon. 
“ Toucans, when tamed, are exceedingly familiar, playful birds, capable of learning as many feats as 
any of the Parrots, with the exception of talking. 
“ When turning about on their perch, they effect their object by one sudden jump. They eat anything, 
but are particularly fond of meat. 
“ When roosting they have a habit of elevating their tails over their backs. The beaks of the Red¬ 
billed Toucans are richly marked with red, yellow, and black; but preserved specimens soon lose their 
beauty. 
“The other varieties found near Para are the Pteroglossus maculirosfris (Licht.), the P. bitorquatus 
(Vig.), and the P. viridis .” 
But few notes have been written on the Toucans of the Pacific side of America; I find, however, 
the following in the ‘ Zoology of the Voyage of the Sulphur,’ by the late R. B. Hinds, Esq.:— 
“ In our examination of the west coast of America from south to north, the Ramphastidce were first 
seen at Atacames, which is a little south of the equator; and they were subsequently often noticed at the 
different places touched at as far as the Gulf of Fonseca, in 13° 1 7' N. Lat. This is, however, most 
certainly not their geographical limit, and probably not even on the coast.”—Zool. of Voy. of Sulphur, 
p. 46. 
Latham and some of the older authors mention a Preacher Toucan, but which species is intended is 
by no means clear. The name may possibly have arisen from the following note in the 42nd volume of the 
Gentleman’s Magazine, p. 505 :— 
“ The genus is confined to the hotter parts of South America; near Carthagena is found a bird called 
Preacher, from the custom of its perching above its companions, and with a ridiculous motion of its bead, 
attended with its harsh note, as it were uttering a discourse.” 
By Linnaeus and the older writers, all the members of this group knowm to them were comprised in 
the single genus Ramphastos. In the year 1811, however, Illiger separated the smaller and more elegantly- 
formed species, popularly known as Ar agar is, into a distinct genus, to which he gave the name of Ptero¬ 
glossus. Since that period we have acquired a much more extensive acquaintance with the subject, and we 
find that a still further subdivision of the family is necessary; indeed they appear to be naturally divided 
into five or six distinct sections or genera, each having well-marked characters not found in any of the 
others. The genus Ramphastos of Linnaeus must of course be retained for the Toucans, distinguished by 
their large and gaily-coloured bills, and the black colouring of their plumage ; in like manner Illiger’s genus 
Pteroglossus is retained for the Aracaris, birds having a more elegant contour, and whose bodies are 
clothed in green above and yellow and red beneath. In both these sections the sexes are alike in colour. 
