330 Mr. J.J. Quelch on the 



that their plumage presents a really beautiful aspect, in spite 

 of their sober colouring. 



The apparent awkwardness in placing themselves when 

 they alight is chiefly due, I believe, to the smallness of the 

 branches on which they usually settle, and which they are 

 unable firmly to grasp with their long toes, balancing them- 

 selves meanwhile by the expanded wings and tail ; but it is 

 also attributable, I think, though to a much less degree, to 

 a certain weakness in their legs — even though these are 

 thick and apparently strong-looking — since when they alight 

 on a thick limb a certain amount of instability is still 

 manifest. 



This weakness of limbs seems to be still more evidenced 

 by the method of perching characteristic of the birds. At 

 any time during the heat of the clay they will be found rest- 

 ing on the branches, two or more together, the body directly 

 applied to the wood, and supported on the bare, thickened, 

 and hardened patch of skin which covers the flattened and 

 broadened surface of the posterior termination of the carina 

 sterni. This surface of the keel affords a firm base of sup- 

 port, and as the axis of the sternal keel is not parallel with, 

 but markedly inclined to, the spine, a slight tilt of the spine 

 from the horizontal brings the axis of the sternum close to 

 the vertical, and allows nearly the full weight of the bird to 

 be thrown on the sternal base, while the body of the bird 

 seems to be quite horizontal, owing to the fact that the 

 enormous looped crop, which is directly and closely applied 

 to the face of the furculum and sternum, causes a bulging of 

 the body in the front to balance the extension of the rump 

 behind. The feet of the bird while grasping the branch 

 here evidently support but a very small part of the weight 

 of the body, and are more concerned with its equipoise and 

 stability. 



To judge from the conditions under which the birds at 

 present here exist, it would seem that the sluggish habit has 

 been brought about by a weakening of special muscles through 

 disuse. From the nature of their food no prolonged flight 

 is needed in order to procure it ; from the nature of their 



