TouRACous, Bower Birds and Birds of Paradisp:. 83 



and great intelligence. I may have been fortunate in tny par- 

 ticular pair, hut a pair of another variety I possessed were 

 equally charming. The}'^ are easih'^ kept on banana — it must be 

 ripe, given 7vhole, with a small strip of the skin peeled oflF — this 

 will be entirely cleared out and the fiiiit keeps so much fresher 

 than when cut up. A bunch of sweet, sweet-water grapes (these 

 can be very sour) are also much liked, and elderberries, haw- 

 thorn berries and blackberries are much appreciated, also a 

 lettuce, placed in a pan of water to keep it fresh. A few meal- 

 worms given daily are good, but at the best these are indigestible 

 things. Silkworm eggs allowed to hatch, and the worm given 

 when about an inch long, is worth a dozen mealworms and really 

 not much more trouble. My tame hen was very fond of an earth 

 worm, and it was a curious sight to see her dispose of a reall}'- 

 large, strong worm. Nothiiiz ^"S-n wriggle like a worm, unless it 

 is an eel, and yet the Touracou would walk slowly round it and 

 catch one end and in a few quick gulps it was gone. It was 

 amazing that this extremely lively creature did not upset her, or 

 at least cause inconvenience, but she would spring lightly to her 

 perch, cleanse her beak, and commence to caw or scold in her 

 usual conversational manner. 



When these birds commenced to nest, which they did early 

 in May, the cock was very fierce, and the bird boy fed them in 

 fear and trembling every morning. This delightful impudence 

 was one of their most charming traits and thej' were a constant 

 source of amusement to all. 



Several young were hatched during the season, but onh' 

 one reaied to maturit}', and this bird lived for two years in my 

 aviary. He never was quite as tame as his parents, a curious fact, 

 as I hoped he would be equally tame. Touracous love bathing, 

 and, if given a shallow pan of tepid water, thoroughly enjoy 

 themselves. They require plenty of room, as the flight is sa 

 beautiful, the carmine flight feathers only show when the wing 

 is outspread, and a Touracou in a small division is absolutely 

 wasted. 



The sexes aie not easy to distinguish ; at any rate I should 

 be puzzled if asked to sex a single bird, but with a pair together 

 it is easy to distinguish them, as the hen is much more feminine- 



