PLANTAIN-EA TERS. 



205 



of a skin, or a glance at a stufifed specimen, to indicate the usual 

 food and general habits of birds submitted to inspection, it occa- 

 sionally happens that special peculiarities are observable — the 

 object of which it is difficult to understand without a knowledge 

 of the circumstances under which a given species subsists. Many 

 localities produce delicious fruits in rich abundance, and to obtain 

 these more conveniently, the birds appointed to feed upon them 

 present remarkable modifications of structure. The plantains, for 

 example, throughout many regions of tropical c:)untries, afford a 

 supply of food so plentiful, that a whole family of the feathered 

 creation has been named from its predilection for this particular 

 diet. 



This family embraces the Plaintain-eaters and the Hoaitzins. 



Sub-Family L 



THE PLANTAIN-EATERS PROPER. MUSOPHAGIN^. 



General Characteristics. — The outer toe capable of being placed posteriorly. 



These birds are natives of Africa, where they are not at all 

 uncommon, and may be often seen in the forests, flitting among 

 the branches of lofty trees, gliding among the boughs with great 

 adroitness, and displaying their silky plumes to the best advan- 

 tage. They are wary birds, and seem to have tolerably accurate 

 ideas respecting the range of shot ; for they generally keep to the 

 higher parts of the trees, and seldom allow themselves to be ap- 

 proached within the range of a gun. Their food consists almost 

 entirely of plantains and other fruits, which their large beak seems 

 especially formed to procure. They are all handsome birds, their 

 dimensions resembling those of the European jay, and their plum- 

 age glancing with violet, green, purple, and red of different shades. 



The type of the race is — 



The Violet Plaintain-eater {Miisophaga 7nolacca). This bird is found 

 about Senegal and the Gold Coast. It is remarkable for the extraordinary 

 shape and dimensions of the beak, which is everywhere large and promment, 

 but especially swollen towards the base, where it expands into a large shield- 

 like mass of horny substance, which spreads over the forehead as far as the 

 crown, where it terminates in a semicircular thickened line. The ridge of the 

 beak is greatly arched, and its sides are much compressed. Its colour is as 



