bush ; while the fourth species I know is a perfect 

 little gem, about the size of a Tomtit, brilliant blue 

 above and reddish below, and with a very distinct 

 peacock-blue crest (Corythorjiis cyaiiostigma). 



The TURACOES are represented by two, if not 

 three, species, the first of which is the Variegated 

 Turaco (^Schizorhis africajid). These are common 

 everywhere, and are dull-coloured brown and white 

 birds, which present a great contrast to our second 

 species, the Violaceous Turaco or Plantain-eater 

 {Miisophaga violacea), with its metallic blue or purple 

 plumage and crimson remiges. The latter are more 

 local in distribution than the former, but are fairly 

 common in the haunts which suit them, namely the 

 thick forest which fringes the upper part of the river, 

 and among the belts of dense bush along many of the 

 creeks and swamps, where they are generally found 

 in small parties of six or more. Beside these, I 

 believe there is also a third species, a representative of 

 another genus (^Turacus), which is a green-plumaged 

 bird rather smaller than the Violaceous Turaco, but 

 in this country I have so far never seen one alive or 

 dead, though it is b}' no means uncommon in zoo- 

 logical collections at home, and there was at least 

 one example exhibited at a recent Crystal Palace 

 Show, if I remember aright. 



The Variegated Turaco is a slow- flying bird, 

 which spends its time and gets most of its food among 

 the upper branches of trees, flying with undulating 

 flight from tree to tree, and being most aciive at 

 morning and evening, but dozing through the heat of 

 the day near the top of some thicklj^-foliaged tree. 

 Its note, which is commonly uttered on the wing, 

 consists of the syllables " Kow kow," which is also 

 its Mandingo name. They are generally seen in pairs 

 or in small parties of several pairs together, (the latter 

 especially during the rains), and apparently remain 



