l68 THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



in texture, generally beautifully coloured with 

 green and purple, sometimes grey. Most of the 

 high-coloured forms have carmine primary-quills 

 concealed in repose. No sexual difference or 

 seasonal change ; the young much resemble adults. 

 Young. — Not very active,- remaining in the nest and 

 fed by parents, clad in dark-coloured down with- 

 out markings. They crawl about by aid of their 

 wings. 

 Eggs. — Three ; greenish or bluish- white. 

 Incubation. — Three weeks. 

 Nest. — A platform of twigs in a tree or bush. 

 Food. — Fruit and small animals, such as insects and 



worms. 

 Gait. — They keep mostly to the trees, springing from 

 one bough to another very lightly, and running 

 along the boughs like pheasants on the ground. 

 When they do visit the ground they run there 

 very rapidly also. 

 Flight; — Very light and graceful, but probably not 

 enduring. The feet are tucked up in front when 

 in flight, and the neck extended. 

 Note. — Loud, and not much modulated. 

 Economic Qualities. — They are not beneficial where 

 fruit is grown, but do not seem to be very harmful ; 

 they are extremely ornamental. 

 Disposition and Habits. — They seem to be sociable 

 and playful ; sometimes spiteful to other birds. 

 They spring and strike with their feet when 

 fighting. 

 Captivity. — They do very well when confined, and 

 one species {Tiiracus macrorhynchus) has been bred 

 successfully in England. 

 Distribution and Important Species. — There are 

 about three dozen species, found in Africa south 

 of the Sahara, in forest and wooded plains. The 

 best known species is perhaps the plainest, the 



