NARINA CURUCUT. 15 



In the young state the male has the large wing- 

 coverts reddish, and the quills of the wings 

 brownish black, with white sides; and the female 

 has less of the reddish colour than the male, the 

 hinder part of the neck and the breast is red. 



Le Vaillant, to whom we are indebted for the 

 figure and description of this bird, informs us that 

 it is an inhabitant of Cqffraria, and the country 

 of Auteniquoi to the river Gamtoo, and that the 

 name Narina in the Hottentot language signifies 

 a flower. 



This species builds its nest in the holes of trees, 

 in which the female deposits four nearly round 

 eggs, and during the time of her incubation the 

 male has a melancholic note, at all other times he 

 is silent. 



