164 PASSERES. MUSOPHAGAD^E. 



two laterally disposed toes, while the other two 

 are pointing forwards. They live either in pairs, 

 or in families, according to the season ; nest, like 

 the Parrots, in the hollows of decayed trees, 

 where they lay four eggs of a delicate whiteness. 



GENUS CORYTHAIX. (!LLIG.) 



The generic characters of the Touracos are the 

 following : The beak short, rather small, high, 

 and greatly compressed ; the frontal feathers re- 

 posing over, and concealing the nostrils : the ridge 

 (culmeri) high, and curving downwards to the tip : 

 the lower mandible narrow : both mandibles dis- 

 tinctly notched at the tip, and finely i^^ted. 

 The wings short, rounded ; the first three quills 

 graduated. The tail long, broad, and rounded at 

 the extremity. The feet short, and strong ; the 

 middle toe longer than the tarsus ; the lateral 

 toes equal ; the hind toe shortest ; the external 

 toe capable of being turned one fourth of the way 

 backward. The claws short, thick, and much 

 compressed. 



The Touracos are among fif^i ' charming 

 of birds, having not only brilliance of colour to 

 recommend them, but great elegance of form, and 

 grace of motion. Their long and broad tail, and 

 their high pointed crest, add much to their beauty. 

 Their colour is almost always rich green, set off 

 with gorgeous crimson or purple on the expanded 

 wing. One of the most lovely of the known 

 species, which now amount to seven in all, is the 

 Fire-crested Touraco (Corythaix erythrolophus, 

 VIEILL.) of Western Africa, an individual of which 

 species lived for some time in the gardens of the 



