THE WHITE-BACKED COLY. 



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THE SECOND SUB-FAMILY OF THE MUSOPHAGID^E. THE COLIIN^, OR COLIES. 



Like the foregoing sub-family, the Colies are confined to Africa. They have decided affinities with 

 the true Plantain-eaters, but are distinguished at a glance by their long tails, the feathers of which 

 are much pointed, and become smaller and narrower towards the outside of the tail. They are most 

 dexterous climbers, as was well seen in the captive specimens of the Chestnut-backed Coly, which 

 were brought by Cameron from Angola, and lived for some time in the London Zoological Gardens. 



THE WHITE-BACKED COLY (Colius capemis). 



The Colies are known in the Cape Colony by the name of Muisvogel, or Mouse-bird, and they 

 are not uncommon, ranging about in small families of from six to eight individuals. Mr. 

 Layard says that they fly with a rapid, though laboured flight, generally at a lower level 

 than the object at which they aim, and on nearing the latter they rise upwards with a sudden, 

 abrupt curve. They creep among the branches like Parrots, and hang suspended head downwards, 

 without inconvenience ; and it is said that they invariably sleep in this position, many of them con- 

 gregated in a ball. The nest was found by Mr. Andersson in Damara Land, between September and 

 December. It was placed in a small bush, and was composed externally of grass and twigs, lined 

 internally with softer grass, and the eggs were dull white, and, according to his observations, always 

 three in number. Mr. Andersson states that the bird " is gregarious in its habits, being found in 

 flocks by day, and also when roosting at night. Its flight is short and feeble, seldom extending 

 beyond the nearest bush or tree, on reaching which it usually perches on one of the lower branches, 

 and then gradually glides and ci-eeps upwards through the foliage, using both bill and feet for that 

 purpose. It is essentially a fruit-eating bird, but I believe when hard pressed for its regular food 

 it does not despise insects and the young shoots of plants. Its flesh is palatable." The Colies as a 

 rule are dull-coloured brown birds, but they have a long crest. The present species is perhaps the 

 handsomest, being ash-coloured, and having the lower back and rump purple glossed with red, while a 

 white line, bordered on each side by a broad black one, extends from beneath the shoulders to the rump. 

 The bill is bluish-white, and the feet bright red. The length of the bird is thirteen or fourteen inches. 



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