Ramphastos Tucanus, LINNÆUS; Toucan à gorge jaune du Brésil,
BUFFON; Der Tukan oder Pfeffervogel, BECHSTEIN.
Tucans are distinguished by the great size of their beak, which is
convex above, hooked towards the point, hollow, light, and toothed on
the edges like a saw. The feet have two claws before and two behind. In
summer these birds are brought from South America to England and
Holland, whence they are taken to Germany, though not often. They eat
fruit, berries, grapes, bread, meat, and in general any of our food. In
order to swallow anything they throw it into the air, catching it in
their throats. They are generally reared from the nest, which is placed
in the hole of a tree, and only contains two young ones, which in a
short time are domesticated, and become very attractive.
Of the nine inches, which is the whole length of this tucan, the beak
alone measures five, and is grey at the base and black at the point. The
upper part of the body is of a green black; the cheeks, throat, and
front of the neck are orange, with a crimson band across the breast. The
stomach is of a fine red, the belly and sides blackish, as well as the
pen-feathers and tail. The upper tail-coverts are of a sulphur colour,
the under ones are crimson; the feet and claws lead colour.