THE TOUEAKO. 163 



(B) FOREIGN BIRDS. 



62. TKE TOTJRAKO. 



Cuculus Persa, LIN. Le Touraco, BUF. Der Turako, BECH. 



Description. This bird, which is about the size of a Mag- 

 pie, has been placed by some LINN^US, for example among 

 the Cuckoos, merely because its cry is " Kuk, kuk;" although 

 its beak and manner of living sufficiently indicate its true 

 position is quite another class. The beak is short, thick, and 

 shaped like that of a Pigeon; the upper mandible reddish 

 brown, and bent over the lower ; the nostrils covered with fea- 

 thers. The iris is nut-brown, and on the eye-lids are small 

 fleshy warts ; the opening of the jaws is wide, extending al- 

 most to the ears. The feet, which are adapted for climbing, 

 and the claws, are ash-coloured ; the head, neck, throat, top of 

 the back, breast, upper part of the belly, sides, and upper wing 

 coverts, are covered with fine silky feathers of a beautiful 

 dark green. The feathers on the top of the head are gradu- 

 ally elongated into a high three-cornered tuft, tipped with red, 

 which the bird can erect at pleasure. On each side of the 

 head is a black stripe, broadest in the middle of its course, 

 which, taking its origin from the corner of the beak, runs be- 

 tween the eyes to the back of the head. Above and below 

 this is a narrow white line. The lower part of the back, the 

 rump, the upper wing coverts, the scapulars, and the larger 

 coverts, are a blueish purple. The lower part of the belly, the 

 vent, the thighs, and the under tail coverts, are blackish ; the 

 large pen feathers are crimson, bordered with black on the outer 

 edge, and at the point ; the tail is long and purple. 



In some cases white feathers are found intermixed in the 

 green crest. 



Attractive Qualities. This is among the prettiest and tamest 

 of foreign Cage-birds. Its cry is " Kuk, kuk ;" which syllables 

 it at first utters singly, and then in close and long succession. 

 It neither hops nor climbs, but runs about the room with as 

 much rapidity as a Partridge, and sometimes, with its wings 

 compressed against its body, leaps as far as ten or twelve feet. 

 When its beak is open, the tongue is not visible, and it swal- 

 lows at once all that is given to it. It is fed on small morsels 

 of fruit and bread ; its crop is easily perceptible. 



M2 



