THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 167 



TouRACOUS (MusophagidcB). 



Diagnosis. — Medium-sized tree-birds, with short stout 

 bill^ and outer toe united by a short basal web to 

 middle one. 



Size. — From a pheasant's to a jay's ; mostly the latter. 



Form. — Bill short, stout, upper profile curved, 

 corner of mouth below eye ; feet with rather 



^ 



Head and foot of Touracous. 



short shanks, and four toes, the first, or hinder, 

 smallest, the fourth also usually turned back, 

 though united by a web at base to the middle 

 one — thus the toes are generally in pairs, though 

 sometimes, and always in death, the outer toe 

 comes forward. Head small, almost always crested ; 

 neck rather long. Wings short and rounded ; tail 

 long and rounded. 

 Plumage and Colouration. — Feathers rather hairy^ 



