THE VIOLET PLANTAIN-EATER. 366 



and its highly movable crest being coutinually raised or depressed, giving it a very spirited 

 aspect. 



It is gregarious, living in little companies of four or five in number, and is continually 

 jumpiag and running about the branches in search of its food, which consists of fruit and 

 buds. The grasp of its feet is very powerful, as much so indeed as that of the parrot ; and 

 while traversing the boughs it may often be seen hanging by its feet with its head downward, 

 and occasionally remaining for some time suspended by a single foot. La Vaillant says that 

 this bird, in common \vith other members of the same family, is fond of sleeping in this 

 singular attitude, and that in the early morning it may often be found so benumbed with cold, 

 that it can be taken by hand before it can loosen its hold from the bougii v/hich it grasps so 

 firmly. 



Owing to the formation of its feet, which are almost wholly formed for grasping, it is 

 seldom seen on the ground, and when it has alighted, is awkward in its movements. Among 

 the boughs, however, it is all life and energy, leaping about with a quick vivacity that reminds 

 the observer of our common long-tailed titmouse. In climbing from one branch to another, as 

 in lowering themselves, the Colies frequently use their beaks to aid them, after the well- 

 known practice of the parrots. 



The nests of the Colies are all large and roiuided, and are generally placed in close prox- 

 imity to each other, five or six being often found on the same branch. The materials of which 

 they are made are slender t-wigs externally, lined with mosses and soft feathers. The number 

 of the eggs is from four to six. When fat and in good condition, the flesh is said to be deli- 

 cate and tender. In size it is about equal to a blackbird. 



The general color of this species is a rather light chestnut-gray, brightening into ruddy 

 fawn on the forehead. The crest is composed of fine and slender feathers. The nape of the 

 neck takes a blue tint, and the back is gray, changing to slaty-blue on the upper tail-coverts. 

 The chin and the abdomen are pearl -gray, and the chest is of the same light ruddy fawn as the 

 forehead. The beak is thick and sturdy, and is black at the tips, and brown towards the 

 base. 



Allied to the colies we find another curious and interesting group of birds called the 



Plantain-eaters. 



These birds are natives of Africa, where they are not at all uncommon, and in the forests 

 which they frequent may be seen flitting among the branches of the lofty trees, gliding among 

 the boughs Avith great adroitness, and displaying their shining silken plumage to the best 

 advantage. They are wary birds, and seem to have tolerably accurate ideas respecting the 

 range of shot, for they mostly keep to the highest parts of the tree, and can but seldom be 

 approached sufficiently near to be killed by the gun. Their food is almost wholly composed 

 of fruits, and for feeding on such substances they are well suited by their large and peculiarly 

 formed beaks. 



They are all handsome birds, their dimensions averaging those of the European jay, and 

 their plumage glancing with violet, green, purple, and red of different shades. One of the 

 finest of the species is the Violet Plantain-eater, a bird which is found about Senegal and 

 the (rold Coast. It is remarkable for the exti-aordinary shape and dimensions of the beak, which 

 is everywhere large and prominent, but is especially swollen towards the base, where it 

 expands into a large shield-like mass of horny substance, which spreads over the forehead as 

 far as the crown, where it terminates in a semicircular thickened line. The ridge of the beak 

 is greatly arched, and its sides are much comi^-essed. Its color is equally singular with its 

 shape, for it is of a fine golden-yellow, passing into rich crimson on the upper part of the 

 base. 



The top of the head is crimson, not unlike that of the beak, and the feathers are very soft 

 and fine, bearing a velvety or plush-like aspect. The general color of the plumage is very deep 

 violet, appearing black in the shade, and glossed with rich green in many lights. Part of the 

 primary quills of all the secondaries are carmine, softening into delicate lilac, and tipped with 

 deep violet. The large and powerful legs are black. 



