166 PASSERES. MUSOPHAGAD^. 



green, inclining to bluish on the under parts ; the 

 quill-feathers are rich purple or violet ; the beak 

 is yellow ; the feet greyish-black. The long silky 

 crest of this beautiful bird, when under any ex- 

 citement, is elevated into a somewhat conical 

 form, compressed at the sides ; and, when erected, 

 imparts to the head an appearance as if covered 

 with a helmet. The generic name applied to the 

 bird alludes to this fancied resemblance, the word 

 Corythaix (/copvOal^) 9 signifying one that moves 

 the helmet. In a state of repose the crest-feathers 

 fall down upon the head, and project behind. 



We know but little of the manners of the Tou- 

 racos in their native forests. Le Vaillant informs 

 us that they usually keep on the highest branches 

 of lofty trees, where, to the no small irritation of 

 the eager naturalist, they were beyond the reach of 

 his fowling-piece. An accident, in connexion with 

 one of these birds, occurred to that enterprising 

 traveller, which might have proved as tragical to 

 him, as a similar misfortune did to the unhappy 

 Drummond in the Sandwich Islands. Having suc- 

 ceeded, after many efforts, in bringing a Touraco 

 to the ground, Le Vaillant searched for it in vain, 

 and stamping with rage at his disappointment, he 

 broke through into one of the covered pits which 

 the Hottentots constructed for the entrapping of 

 the large and ferocious animals, particularly ele- 



fhants. " As soon," observes the naturalist,' " as 

 began to recover from my surprise, I looked 

 round to see how I might extricate myself from 

 my embarrassing position, extremely happy that I 

 had not been impaled on the sharp-pointed stake, 

 placed upright in the bottom of the pit, and no 

 less rejoiced that I found in it no company. I 



