222 VIOLET PLANTAIN-EATER. 



conirostral type, but we nevertheless think it should 

 be candidly stated. According to our present views 

 of the Cwulidoe, the plantain-eaters cannot enter 

 into that circle. 



The colouring, however rich, can be described in 

 a few words. The outer half of the upper and the 

 whole of the under mandible is of a bright crimson, 

 blending into a fine and deep yellow on the frontal 

 or thickest part ; the orbits are entirely naked, and 

 with the compact and velvet-like feathers of the 

 crown, are of a glossy crimson ; the ears are bordered 

 above by a pure white stripe ; the whole of the 

 secondary and part of the primary quills are of the 

 richest carmine glossed with lilac, more or less mar- 

 gined and tipt with the blackish violet which spreads 

 over all the rest of the plumage ; this violet gloss, 

 however, becomes very dark green on the under 

 parts, and is particularly rich on the tail. The legs 

 are strong and black; the great length of the 

 middle toe, together with the thick, hooked, and 

 very broad claws, evince how completely this and 

 the plaintain-eaters are constructed for living among 

 trees, a fact which must have been overlooked by 

 those who have fancied the Musophagidce connected 

 the perchers (Insessores) with the gallinaceous or 

 rasorial tribes. The gape is very wide, and open* 

 beneath the eyes. 



Total length about 20 inches ; bill from the gape, 

 ] T 2 <j ; from the front, 1^ ; wings, 8^ ; tail beyond, 

 4 ; from the base, 8 ; tarsus, 1^ ; middle toe and 

 claw, 2; lateral ditto, 1^ ; hinder ditto, j%. 



