I 5 2 



THE BIRDS OF ETHIOPIAN AFRICA 



of egg-laying. Honey-guides, of which /. sparrmanni (or indicator) is a well- 

 known species, are usually black, relieved to a greater or less extent by yellow. 



The family of trogons (Trogonidte) is largely tropical American, but Africa 

 has representatives in the shape of the exclusively Ethiopian genus Hapaloderma, 



of which H. narina ranges 

 from north-east Africa to 

 Cape Colony and Angola, 

 while H. constaniia is west 

 and H. (Heterotrogon) viita- 

 tum east African. Like so 

 many other members of the 

 family, these birds have 

 much green in the plumage. 

 An exclusively African 

 group are the handsome 

 golden cuckoos, among which 

 Chrysococcyx (Metallococcyx) 

 smaragdiueus is emerald - 

 green with a golden breast 

 and white-barred tail, while 

 C. cupreus is coppery green 

 and white above and bronze 

 and white below. The white 

 eggs are laid in the nests of 

 finches and sun-birds. 



The plantain-eaters of 

 the family Musophagidoe, 

 which differ from the mem- 

 bers of the allied groups by 

 the reversible outer toe, have 

 ' //^ # i H / \j / s i x or seven generic types, 



r * I , •> -^Sb. with a considerable number 



of species, restricted to 

 Africa. These birds dwell 

 in the tree-tops, where they 

 consort in small flocks and 

 feed on insects and berries. 

 With the exception of the 

 species known as the turaco, 

 which frequents low bush, 

 they lead a secluded life, 

 seldom coming to the ground, 

 and betraying their presence only by their loud, musical call. Eleven of the species 

 are remarkable for their brilliant green plumage, the stout, laterally compressed and 

 sharply ridged beak, and the stiff feathers around the nostrils. A species peculiar 

 to tropical West Africa is the helmeted turaco (Turacus buffoni), which is more 



WHITE-EARED MOUSE-BIRD. 



