INTRODUCT ION. 16 : 5 one. stiff and unyielding, takes no part in the direction of the food, nor jn behind forwards, so that the tongue, stl — ee the formation of the note, which, in the first two species, is confined to the me able ‘ rac. «The mandibles are very distinctly dentated at their edges ; these jena not corresponding at all above and below, nor are they even relatively symmetrical. The beak itself is a thin osseous sheath filled with a number of empty cellules. «The eye is large and surrounded by a triangular naked space, puffed up and very pretty. « The foot is very short and stout, and covered nearly to the heel with long scales, harsh ‘to the touch, The outer toe, as well before as behind, is the longest. The claws are m uch flattened and curved, as in the Woodpeckers. The tail is composed of ten feathers. nd in a straight horizontal line, flapping its wings occa- «The Toucan flies at a moderate height a sionally with some noise. The flight is quicker than the smallness of the wings would lead one to believe. It perches towards the top of the highest trees, and although unable to climb after the manner of Wood- peckers, it still progresses with speed, hopping from branch to branch. It pays great attention to all that takes place in its vicinity, advancing with fear and diffidence, like the ‘ Uruca’ and the ‘ Acahes’. “There is no perceptible difference between the two sexes, nor do I believe that the species exists towards the south beyond 28°, nor that it drinks ; it rarely settles on the ground. «The first species (2. Toco) is not rare; it is found near habitations and in the woods, but never in the fields. ‘As regards its nidification, it builds in the holes of trees, and hatches two young ones, closely resembling the adults, which feed them until they are able to fly. I have observed that young birds reared artificially always die at the end of two or three months. “The Toucan hops obliquely and very awkwardly, with the legs separated almost a hand’s breadth. ‘When it takes young birds from the nest, pieces of meat or fruit, it throws them in the air, as a . a a re The z 2 > ugole alls. < ‘ »}z an 4 A c : . ‘ = . oe juggler his balls, and by a quick movement of the beak, repeats this action until the food is in a favourable position for being swallowed, and then by another movement gulps it down its large throat > { aloe abe “Tf the mouthful be larger tl if ; : irger than the orifice he culle T ree : | arg an the orifice of the gullet, the Toucan abandons it without seeking to divide it. “Tt is not know . ;