THE WHITE-CREATED PLANTAIN-EATER. 



33J 



THE FIRST SUB-FAMILY OF THE MUSOPHAGID^E. THE MUSOPHAGIN^E, OR TRUE 



PLANTAIN-EATERS. 



THE WHITE-CRESTED PLANTAIN-EATER (Corythau mmophaga}. 



This is perhaps the best known of the whole family of these curious birds, being the commonest 

 species in South Africa, where it is plentiful in the forest districts of the Knysna, and the south coast 

 as far as Natal, and the wooded districts of the Eastern Transvaal. It is known by the name of the 

 Louri, or Lory, and the following brief account of its habits is given by Mr. Layard : * " The 

 Plantain-eater feeds on fruits, and frequents the highest trees, rarely, if ever, descending to the ground, 

 over which it can, however, travel with great i-apidity if brought down by a shot. The motions of 



WHITE-CRESTED PLANTAIX-EATEU. 



this species are very graceful and light, and performed with an ease and rapidity that delight the eye 

 of the beholder. Strange to say, though we inquired carefully, we never could obtain any 

 information respecting the nidification of this beautiful and common bird. Mr. Atmore, however, 

 states that the eggs are white; but this must be from hearsay, as he writes: 'How difficult it is to 

 find these forest birds' nests ! The Lories are breeding now, but for the life of me I cannot find a 

 nest. The young ones go in troops, and are delicious eating ; the old ones in pairs. We never shoot 

 specimens out of a troop except for the pot.' An old foi-ester told him that the eggs were white, both 

 the latter and the nests being like those of Pigeons. Mr. Rickard says : ' I once found an egg in a 

 bird I shot at East London (January 27th) ; it was pure white, and the size of a tame Pigeon's.' 

 Mr. Bowker writes : ' I once found a Louri's nest. It was just like a Dove's, built of sticks laid 

 horizontally, and about the size of a large dinner-plate, placed about ten feet from the ground in the 

 centre of a round bush. The old bird flew out as I walked up. I found five young birds in the nest ; 

 they were almost full-grown, but their tails rather short and stumpy, crest just showing, but I cannoi 

 remember whether the red on the wing was showing or not. On my getting up to the nest they aU 



* Sharpe's edition of Layard's " Birds of South Africa," p. 141. 



