WUITE-CRESTED TOURACO.— riiraras albocrUtitus. 



the Gold Coast. It is remarkable for the extraordinary shape and dinwnsions of the 

 beak, which is everywhere large and prominent, but is especially swollen towards the 

 base, where it expands into a large sliield-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 

 equally singular with its shape, for it is of a fine golden yellow, passing into rich crimson 

 on the upper part of the liase. 



The top of the head is cronson, not unlike that of the beak, and the feathers are very 

 soft and fine, bearing a velvety or j^lush-like aspect. The general colour of the plumage 

 is very deep violet, appearing black in the shade, and glossed with rich gi-een in many 

 lights. Part of the primary CjuiUs of all the secondaries are carmine, softening into 

 delicate lilac, and tipped with deep violet. The large and powerful legs are black. 



Another beautiful example of this group is the White-crested Touraco. 



This bird is remarkable not only for its handsome plumage, but for its peculiar 

 customs. It is* even more suspicious and wary than the previous species, and has a 

 peculiar talent for concealing itself. Let a White-crested Touraco only take the alarm, 

 and in a second of time it will be so well hidden that even a practised eye can scarcely 

 obtain a clue to its whereabouts. 



It is generally to be found among the liranclics of trees, and if it should be alarmed, 

 and fly from one tree to another, it will vanish frfim sight so rapidly that the only way to 

 get a shot at it is by sending some one up the tree to beat each bough in succession. 



