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however, they are totally different; the toes of th e Toucan being placed two before and two behind, while
the foot of the Hornbill is of a broad palmated form, with three large partially united toes before and a
more feebly developed one behind: still, although so nearly allied, the two groups constitute two distinct
families, representing each other in the respective countries they inhabit; the Hornbills dwelling in Africa,
India and its islands, and the Toucans in tropical America. South America then is the true habitat of
this group, and the forests bordering the mighty Amazon the centre whence they diverge on either hand.
It is there that we find the greatest number of species, and there every generic form is represented. From
this central stronghold they range as far south as Paraguay and Bolivia; and their progress northward
is not bounded by New Grenada, several species inhabiting the Isthmus which connects Southern with
Central America, and two even extending their range as far as Mexico. The forests of the Andes and the
Cordilleras also afford to several species a congenial place of abode. Some frequent the humid woods of
the temperate regions, while others resort to the comparatively colder districts, and dwell at an elevation
of from six to ten thousand feet; those inhabiting the lofty regions are generically different from those
residing in the lowlands, and are clothed in a more thick and sombre-coloured plumage; all the members
of the genus Aniigem are thus distinguished, as well as by their bills being strong, heavy and hard when
compared with those of the true Toucans and Arafaris, all of which have bills of a more delicate structure,
and in several species so thin'and elastic on the sides as to be compressible between the fingers.
Considerable diversity of opinion exists as to the peculiar uses for which the disproportionate bdls of
these birds are especially adapted, and as to the nature of the food upon which they subsist; some writers
stating that they are strictly frugivorous, and that they never partake of animal food; while others affirm
that they are quite omnivorous: my own belief is that fruits are, strictly speaking, their natural food, but
that occasionally, as is the case with the Parrots and many fruit-eating birds, animal food is necessary to
their well-being;.and is then freely eaten : I have had many opportunities of observing that such is the case
in a state of confinement, in confirmation of which I would refer to the interesting account by Mr. Broderip
given with the description of Ramphastos erythrorhynchm. In this semi-domesticated state they wdl even
eat mice, caterpillars, small birds, and fiesh of any kind, especially raw beef; and I have little doubt that
they would also eat fish if offered to them: Humboldt states, indeed, that the Toucan loves to fish on the
banks of rivers, and it was doubtless some report of this kind that induced Linnams to give the name of
piscívoras to a species of this family; but I apprehend that in this particular both these celebrated men have
been misinformed, for, as I have before said, I have every reason to believe that in a state of nature fruit is
their principal food, the larger species, such as the Toco and the other members of the restricted genus
Ramphastos, feeding upon Bananas and other succulent kinds, while, the Pteroglossi and the Toucanets
mainly subsist upon the smaller fruits and berries.
Many interesting notes respecting these birds have been published by travellers who have explored
South America, and I cannot perhaps do better than give them in their own words; for althofigh unconnected,
they will convey a more lively idea of the habits and economy of this group of birds, than could be
obtained from a condensed account derived therefrom ; at the same time I must remark that on some points
they are very contradictory.
The Prince Maximilian of Wied, who has kindly forwarded to me some valuable notes on the Brazilian
species observed by him during his travels in that part of South America, says, “ The Ramphastida are very
common in all parts of the extensive forests: of the Brazils, and are killed in great numbers at the cooler
portion of the year for the purposes of the table. To the stranger they are of even greater interest than
to the natives, from their remarkable form and from the rich and strongly contrasted style of their colouring;
their black o r green bodies being adorned with markings of the most brilliant hue—red, orange, blue and
white; their naked orbits in some instances red, and in others green or blue; the naked parts of the body
dyed with brilliant colours; the legs blue or green, the irides blue, yellow, &c;; and the large bill of a
different colour in every species, and in many instances very gaily marked. The colouring of the soft
parts is, however, so evanescent, that, to determine the species with accuracy, they must be depicted
during life or immediately after the birds are killed. Common as these birds are in their native wilds, it
is exceedingly 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. The stomachs of the specimens I examined contained nothing but the
remains of fruits, principally of the softer kinds, for which indeed they have such a liking that they resort
in great numbers to the plantations in the vicinity of their native haunts and commit sad havoc among
their favourite delicacies. I was informed that they frequently steal and eat young birds, but no instance
of their so\domg came under my own observation, and I never detected the remains of animal food in their
stomachs: Mr. Waterton's opinion agrees with mine, that they feed solely upon fruits; but Azara, among
others, states that they also feed upon animal substances. The specimens we saw in a state of domestication
were very voracious and perfectly omnivorous, but they seem to be purely frugivorons in a state of
nature, a fact which was indeed confirmed by the Brazilian natives whom we questioned on the snbject.
In their manners the Ramphastidas offer some resemblance to the ConidtB, 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 facility over the loftiest trees of their native forests;
their strangely developed bills, contrary to expectation, are no encumbrance to them, for a singularity of
structure (the interior being replete with a tissue of air-filled cells)1 renders these organs very light and
even buoyant. The voice of the Rmphastidce is short and uumelodions, and is somewhat different in every
species. Their feathers are used by the Indians for personal decoration, especially the yellow breasts of
the birds, which they affix to their heads on each side near the temple, and also to the ends of their bows.
The descriptions of these birds in the older authors are very incomplete and of little value, from want of
knowledge relative to the colouring of their bill and soft parts; nor have they been correctly described in