SCANSORES. 315 



indeed, in the variety of its tones, the distinctness 

 of its articulation, and the precision of its imitation, 

 are of a surprising character. We need not, how- 

 ever, assure our readers, that all the marvellous tales 

 which have been repeated of its ability to carry on 

 an intelligent conversation are either entirely fa- 

 bulous or gross exaggerations. The whole tribe 

 is believed to attain a great age ; one of the pre- 

 sent species is mentioned by Le Vaillant as having 

 lived in captivity ninety-three years. They feed 

 exclusively on fruits, and associate in large flocks, 

 which are described by those who have seen them 

 in their nights, their beautiful plumage shining 

 in the rays of a tropical sun, as a most superb and 

 magnificent sight. On the trees, they climb about 

 the branches, assisted by the bill as if it were a 

 hand, and suspending themselves in various atti- 

 tudes, with an ease and native grace never exhi- 

 bited in the confinement of a cage. The menagerie 

 of the Zoological Society is peculiarly rich in this 

 splendid and noble family. 



y* the Touraco. 



A beautiful bird of South Africa, whose rich 

 green plumage is varied on the wings by brilliant 

 crimson : it feeds on soft fruits. 



* Kogu;, korys, a helmet. Ko^a'/g, moving the helmet. 



P 2 



