372 



NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



largest species, Corythceola cristata, presents a most striking similarity to a hokko, 

 and is not much inferior in size. The family is strictly African, however, no species 

 occurring outside of the Ethiopian region proper, not even in Madagascar. The true 

 plantain-eaters (Musophaga) are glossy bluish or violet-black, and have a bony frontal 

 shield as a prolongation of the beak much in the fashion of the coots. They are large 

 and handsome birds, the typical species of which (M. violaced) is figured in the 

 accompanying cut. The turacous ( Turacus), so called in imitation of their cry, are 

 somewhat smaller, of a peculiar light green color, while the wing-feathers are of a 

 most beautiful carmine; a rounded, strongly compressed feather-crest adorns the 

 head. The most interesting fact in regard to these birds, is, perhaps, the nature of 



"msuemmniimm ^n^ 



FIG. 174. Musophaga violacea, violaceous plantain-eater, 



the coloring matter. As already mentioned in the introduction (page 5), the only 

 green pigment discovered in birds is that which has been called turacoverdin, while 

 turacin, the magnificent red pigment of the wing, is equally peculiar to these birds. 

 This latter pigment is the more remarkable, since it is said to be washed out during 

 heavy showers of the rainy season, leaving the feathers pinky white, their former 

 beauty being resumed, however, in the course of two or three days. The best known 

 species is the white-crested turacou ( T. corythaix) from South Africa, which, like its 

 congeners, frequents the highest trees, feeding on fruits. The colonists call them 

 lories. Another South African species is the gray turacou (Chizcerhis concolor), 

 similar in form, but uniform gray all over. The following is an abstract of an inter- 

 esting account communicated to Mr. R. B. Sharpe by Dr. Exter: "In traveling 

 through the Betchuana country, one often comes upon a party of five or six of these 



