o —s-- NATURAT. HISTORY. | 
noftrils ; this miftake, in all probability, originated 
from their being placed in the upper part of the bill, 
and, confequently, neatly covered with feathers. 
Between the white on the.breaft, and the black on 
the belly:are a number of red feathers, moft beauti- 
fully formed in the fhape ofa crefcént, with the horns 
pointing upwards.’ ‘The toes are.difpofed in the fame 
manner as thofe of the parrot,-two before and two 
behind. 
The toucan is fo eafily tamed, that it will hatch and 
rearjits young in houfes. Its chief food is pepper, 
which it is faid to devour like a glutton. Pozzo, who 
. bred one of thefe birds, fays, that it refembles a mag- 
pie, both in voice and motion. Naturalifts feem to 
think, that the toucan ufes its tongue to all thofe pur- 
pofes for which other birds ufe their bills. This nat- 
urally accounts for the thinnefs of the beak, which 
feems only calculated.as a fheath for the tongue, 
which is very large and ftrong. 
This bird inhabits only the warm climates of South 
America, where it is much efteemed for the delicacy 
of its flefh, and beauty of plumage. ‘The feathers of 
the breaft are particularly adinired by the Indians, 
who pluck them from this part of the fkin, and, when 
dry, glue them to their cheeks, which they reckon 
an irrefiftable addition to female beauty. 
When we contemplate the bird creation, we can- 
not confider*without amazement, how varioufly na- 
ture has formed their bills, wings, feet and bodies, 
according to their different wants and peculiarities, 
occafioned either by ‘fituation or difpofition ; a more 
ftriking inftance of which cannot be adduced than ia 
the bird juft defcribed. ; 
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