Mr. A. R. Wallace on the Natural Airangement of Birds, 213 



Taracos, and Mr. Swainson in the family of the Cuckoos. We 

 believe it should be placed between the two, or rather as a lateral 

 branch from the Turacos. This bird is very abundant on the 

 banks of the Amazon, where we have often observed and shot 

 it. It frequents low bushes on the river^s edge, where it feeds 

 on leaves, principally those of a gigantic Arum. It never goes 

 on the ground. This circumstance, combined with the fact of 

 its having no gizzard, would at once decide that it is not Galli- 

 naceous. Our own impression at the time, from its general ap- 

 pearance, flight, and habits, was, that it was a gigantic Cuckoo. 

 Its long crest remarkably resembles that of the genus Diplo- 

 pterus, several species of which occur in the same district, and 

 they both have the habit of throwing it up when alarmed in 

 exactly the same manner. In its bill and general form it ap- 

 proaches the Turacos more nearly than any other bird. The 

 only difficulty is in the feet, which, though similar in form, have 

 not the versatile outer toe of those birds. This however seems 

 of less importance, because a genus of Musophagidce {Schizorhis) 

 has also all the toes directed forwards. The short wings, weak 

 heavy flight, strong legs, long toes, and the character of the 

 plumage, added to the resemblances already pointed out, cer- 

 tainly justify us in believing this to be the true position for this 

 singular bird, while its peculiar food and internal structure show 

 that it is to some extent isolated, and cannot be referred to any 

 known family. ^fodw ^f , r, ^^ ^^^ 



We have now only one more group to introduce into our 

 Scansores, but it is one of extreme interest, as tending in some 

 degree to fill up the wide chasm which separates the Psittacidce 

 from all other birds. This we believe is done by the Coliidce, a 

 small group of birds peculiar to Africa, and which have been 

 generally classed as Finches, from their small size and thick 

 beaks. The particulars which Le Vaillant gives of their habits 

 are however exceedingly curious, and show a resemblance to the 

 Parrots which no other birds exhibit. They live entirely on 

 fruits, never touching either seeds or insects. They never perch 

 or jump. They walk with the whole tarsus applied to the ground, 

 creeping as it were upon their belly. They are very fleshy, and 

 weigh twice as much as another bird of apparently the same size, 

 for their feathers are so short and so close-laid upon their body, 

 that they are really much larger than they appear. They have 

 also very weak wings, and can fly a very short distance. They 

 climb up to the top of a tree or bush to fly to another, and in 

 doing so, lose elevation so as generally to arrive at the foot of it. 

 They climb one foot after the other, and help themselves on with 

 their beaks. 



Now, almost the whole of this description will apply to some 



