COLOURS OF TOURACOU 



touracous come nearest to the cuckoos in systematic 

 position. But it is clear that, after all, they are a 

 somewhat isolated race. The principal fact of interest 

 about them is the red colouring matter of the wing 

 feathers. In considering the peacock, it is pointed out 

 that colours in birds' feathers may or may not depend 

 upon the presence in the feather of a pigment of that 

 particular hue. In the peacock the bright metallic 

 tints are the product of the feather structure and of a 

 blackish pigment below. In the touracou, on the con- 

 trary, the red feathers contain a red pigment, which 

 can be dissolved out, and which shows in solution the 

 same fine colour that it shows when embedded in the 

 substance of the feathers. Some characteristics of this 

 pigment have given rise to what must be regarded as 

 rather a legendary history. It has been noticed that 

 in wet weather these birds confine themselves to the 

 densest shades of their native thickets, a proceeding 

 on their part which is not at all unusual for a bird. But 

 a special reason for this was alleged in the case of the 

 touracou. The red pigment was held to be dissolved 

 out by the warm tropical rain, leaving the feather 

 blanched. It was furthermore added, with perhaps an 

 eye to paradox and effect, that when the bird was shot 

 and happened to fall into water, it dyed the stream 

 red, not with its own blood, but with the dissolved 

 crimson pigment. The actual facts upon which these 

 statements have been based is that the colour can be 

 removed from the feathers by steeping them in alkalis. 

 And furthermore that ordinary tap water, which is as a 

 rule slightly alkaline, will be tinged to a perceptible 

 extent after a feather has been steeped in it, particularly 

 if the water be warm. It is, however, doubtful whether 

 a touracou is bleached by exposure to a tropical or 

 any downpour. The name turacin has been applied 

 to this pigment, and it is characterized, a somewhat 



