498 



The Living Animals of the World 



apparently washed out a supposition justified 

 by the discovery still later that the water in 

 which captive species had been bathing was 

 strongly tinged with colour. A little more 

 than thirty years ago these facts came under 

 the notice of Professor Church, who, as a 

 result of a thorough examination of the 

 mystery, was enabled to announce the dis- 

 covery of a new animal pigment containing 

 copper, which he called "turacin." 



There are twenty-five different species of 

 plantain-eaters, which are divided into two 

 groups those which have red in the quills 

 and those without. All are forest-dwellers, 

 feeding upon various wild fruits, building a 

 nest of sticks resembling that of a pigeon, 

 and laying therein three white eggs. The 

 majority of the species are crested and 

 brilliantly coloured, but a few are quite 

 soberly clad. The largest of the tribe is 

 nearly 3 feet long, and a brief description of 

 its coloration will serve to convey a notion 

 of the beauty of the more gorgeously clad 

 members. In this species, then, the upper 

 surface of the body is blue, the tail yellow, 

 with a blue base and black bar across the 

 tip, the under surface of the body rufous 

 brown, the bill yellow, with a scarlet tip, and 

 the eye red. 



Though the tops of the highest trees 

 seem to be their favourite resort, these birds are 

 found also among the dense tangled masses 

 of creepers near the ground, flitting, when 

 disturbed, in graceful curves, and alighting 

 with crest erected and the tail turned sharply 

 upwards. The powers of flight appear to vary 

 among the different species, some being described as decidedly clumsy on the wing, whilst others, 

 on the contrary, are light and graceful. Shy and very restless, they are very difficult to 

 procure, when wounded running with great speed, and taking shelter in holes in trees. Their 

 flesh is esteemed a great delicacy by the natives. Save during rain or the heat of midday, 

 they appear to be very noisy birds, having a harsh note, varied with cat-like mewings. 



f/ioto by J. T. Kemnan} [Jicfkkamsled. 



YOUNG CUCKOO IN REED-WARBLER'S NEST. 



This photograph was taken in August, an unusually late date to find these 

 birds in the nest. 



CHAPTER XII. 



ROLLERS, KINGFISHERS, HORNBILLS, AND HOOPOES. 



CROW-LIKE birds of brilliant coloration, the ROLLERS have earned their name from the 

 habit of occasionally rolling or turning over in their flight, after the manner of 

 tumbler-pigeons. One species at least visits Britain occasionally, only to be shot down 

 at once by the insatiable pot-hunter and collector of rare birds. They are birds of wide 

 distribution, occurring over the greater part of the Old World, and, as we have already 

 remarked, of brilliant coloration, blue, and green, varied with reddish, being the predominating 

 colours. As with all birds of beautiful plumage, they are subjected to much persecution, 



