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The Great Touraco.



THE GREAT TOURACO (Corythaeola vel

Schizorhts cristata).


By J. Delacour.


(Translated by the Editor from the 4 Bulletin de la Societe Nationale

d'Acclimatation de France. 1 )


The war ancl the submarine campaign have hindered the

importation of exotic animals into France, but they have not

entirely stopped it. Thus it was that I was able to receive at the

beginning of the year a very interesting package from the Gaboon,

in which was found a superb bird—the Great Touraco.


The family of the Musophagidse is particularly attractive;

the species which compose it have not only an elegant form, united

to brilliant colours, but their character and habits also constitute

them the most agreable of birds to keep in captivity.


The different Touracos are always rare enough in collections,

in spite of their hardy temperament and their readiness to breed

in aviaries. I even believe that people had never hitherto seen

a live specimen of the Great Touraco.


This bird, much bigger than its congeners, measures about

75 cm. in length ; it has the outlines of a Pheasant, or rather of a

Crested Guan, whose general appearance it somewhat recalls.


The Great Touraco is entirely arboreal; like the other members

of its family, it scampers over the branches, which made many

visitors to my Buffon Touracos exclaim “Talk about squirrels . . . !”


One feeds it on bananas, apples and other fresh fruit, on

dried figs and raisins, and meat cut small. It refused meal-worms,

Gaurasius, and other insects. Its behaviour is distinct enough from

that of other Touracos, its prominent and brilliant beak and its

unique crest confer on it a distinctive physiognomy, while the great

development of its wings and tail give it marked individuality.


If other individuals were imported, it would be interesting

to try to breed them, it ought not to be more difficult than breeding

Button's Touraco.


(An excellent coloured figure one-quarter the natural size

accompanied this account. We hope that some day the Great

Touraco may be seen in our aviaries on this side of the Channel.



