MUSOPHAGA. BIRDS. 247 



basal, lateral, partly concealed by feathers ; tail very long, 

 conical ; tarsus short, the hind toe reversible ; the anterior 

 toes divided ; wings short ; the third quill longest. 



The birds of this genus are natives of Africa or India, climb somewhat in the 

 manner of parrots, live in troops, build numerous nests on the same bushes, and 

 sleep suspended on the branches, with their head downwards. They feed on fruits. 



C. Capensis, Gmel. (Loxia, Lin.) Cape Coly. Outer edges of the 

 exterior tail-feathers white ; body cinereous above, whitish be- 

 neath. Size of the chaffinch. Cape of Good Hope. Shaw, x. pi. 1. 



C. Senegalensis, Gmel. Head, neck, and breast tinged with pur- 

 plish ,- the feathers^on the top and hind parts of the head green, 

 and formed into a crest ; rest of the upper parts pale-gray ; tail 

 bluish, the middle feathers above eight inches in length. Inhabits 

 Africa. Shaw, x. 5. 



ORDER V. ZYGODACTYLOUS BIRDS. Zygodactyli. 



Bill of various form, more or less curved, or much hooked, 

 and often straight and angular ; feet always with two toes 

 before, and two behind, and the exterior hind toe frequently 

 reversible. 



The distinctive character of the birds of this order is chiefly the disposition of the toes 

 in pairs. Many of them chiefly or exclusively live on caterpillars, worms, and in- 

 sects, but others on soft or hard fruits, and most of them nestle in the holes of 

 decayed trees. 



FAMILY I. Bill more or less curved ; feet with two toes before and 

 generally two behind, the exterior hind toe sometimes reversible. 



Gen. 1. MUSOPHAGA, Tern. Opcethus, Vieill. 



Bill short, stout, broad, ridge arched and elevated, notched at 

 the point, extremity of the lower mandible forming an angle ; 

 nostrils basal, and often concealed by feathers ; legs stout, 

 tarsus equal in length to the middle toe ; the exterior rever- 

 sible ; lateral toes equal ; the fourth and fifth quills the longest. 



M. Africana, Tern. (Opcethus, Vieill. Cuculus, Lin.) African 

 Touraco. Plumage bluish green, the feathers on the head length- 

 ened into a crest, capable of erection; quill- feathers crimson, 

 margined with black ; tail bluish purple ; belly, thighs, and un- 

 der tail-coverts blackish. Inhabits Africa. Shan, ix. pi. 15. 



M. Paulina, Tern. Plumage above glossy copper- coloured ; belly 

 and vent dull copper-green, glossed with bluish j a large white 

 spot round the eye ; crest and quill-feathers red ; bill orange 

 Inhabits Southern Africa. Shaw, xiv. pi. 26. 



M. violacea, Tern. Plumage deep violet, except on the lower part 

 of the wings, where the quill- feathers are bright purple, or rather 

 crimson, tipped with violet, and the crown of the head, which is 



