'I'HE TOUR.\COS. 867 



Latluiin, said to be from New Holland, belongs probably to another genus. The Colics 

 are gregarious, live upon fruits, and are the scourges of gardens. They walk badly, but 

 they climb almost continually on the branches of trees, where they hold on, assisting 

 themselves with their bills, like the parrakeots. They build their nests, . which are 

 spacious and round, in little groups ; and Le Yaillant affirms that they sleep suspended 

 with their heads downwards, and that, when it is cold, they are found so benumbed in 

 the morning, that thej' may be taken one after the other. The number of eggs is 

 generally five or six ; and Lesson says that the flesh of the birds is delicate. 



To the Colies must be added, as belonging to the same family, the Touracos. * They 

 are most elegant birds, and feed principally on soft fruits. Their prevailing colour is 

 green, varied, in some species, with purple on the wings and tail. They are natives of 

 Africa, where the}'" perch oa the highest branches of the forest trees, and thus keep out 

 of gim-shot. Le Yaillant, after many vain attempts, succeeded in bringing one to the 

 ground ; but he could not find it : and, stamping in his rage at the loss, he broke 

 through into one of the coveVed pits which the Hottentots emploj'^ed to catch ferocious 

 animals, particularly elephants. This accident might have proved fatal. " When I 

 recovered my first surprise," he says, "I began to consider how I should extricate 

 myself from this embarrassment, extremely happy that I had not been impaled on the 

 sharp -pointed stake placed in the bottom of the j)it, and still happier that I found in it 

 no company. I was, however, apprehensive that some might arrive every moment, 

 especially if I should be obliged to remain there during the night." In this dilemma he 

 fired his fusee at intervals ; the shotSj'^iit last, were answered, and he was rescued by his 

 Hottentots. But he did not forget his Touraco ; and now, by the aid of his dogs, which 

 had followed the Hottentots, found it squatted under a tufted bush. He afterwards laid 

 snares for these birds on the fruit-trees to which they resorted to feed, and took them 

 aKve. |"\Vifh these birds we close oui- account of the Zycodactyli, and proceed to the 



RaS0RT.\L, or G^iLLINACEOUS. 



• Corythaix. 



