family, has as yet been met with only in the Island of Cuba, of 
which it is not the least beautiful ornament. Very common in 
the woods, its favorite place of abode, its plaintive song may 
be heard there in the evening, but especially in the morning, 
repeated at lengthened intervals. The first portion of the note 
is highest and longest, and may most readily be imitated with 
a trumpet. It is this habit that has induced the Guaranis of 
Paraguay to say, speaking of another species, that it cries in 
the morning that the sun may rise, and in the evening because 
it is setting. Dwelling alone in the vast woods, it perches 
generally on the lower branches of the trees, and there remains 
immovable for hours at a time, apparently asleep, 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 Trogons found in the 
warm regions of America, India, and Africa. 
The Toco Toucan (Rhamphastos toco). 
Cuvier’s Toucan (.Rhamphastos cuvieri). 
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 re¬ 
ality 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 carniv¬ 
orous, 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 Rhamphastida 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 
