RAVENS. 287 



the wings of moderate size, and rather pointed, the fifth quill being longer than the rest, the fourth and 

 sixth, however, almost equalling it in length ; the tail consists of ten broad rounded feathers, slightly 

 graduated at the sides ; the tarsi are short and strong, the toes long, and armed with thick claws; the 

 beak is powerful, and decidedly arched, somewhat rounded at the roof, and indented at its edges. 

 The crest is formed by elongation of the feathers upon the brow and top of the head, the region of the 

 eyes and bridles are also covered with feathers. The plumage is thick and soft, and upon the under 

 part of the body slightly downy. In size this species will bear comparison with the Raven. Its length 

 is about two feet two inches, the wing measures one foot, and the tail one foot and one or two inches. 

 A bright green or Turkish blue usually predominates in the coloration of the feathers ; those which 

 form the crest are, on the contrary, black, tipped with dark blue ; the breast and fore part of the belly 

 are yellowish green, the rest of the under portion of the bird pale reddish brown, the tail greenish 

 blue, tipped with bright blue, and marked with a broad streak of black towards its extremity. The 

 beak is yellow, lighter in shade towards its base ; the feet are of a leaden hue. The male and female 

 resemble each other, but the young are without the crest, and have the throat bare ; the beak and 

 upper part of the head are black, and the whole coat much paler than in the adults. 



The habitat of the Turako is confined to Western Africa, where it exclusively frequents such 

 tracts as are well watered and thickly planted with trees, living in the same manner as the Helmet 

 Birds, and rarely flying for any length of time, owing to the great difficulty it has in sustaining its 

 heavy body, or rising to any great height in the air. Juicy fruits, such as figs or bananas, constitute 

 its favourite food, but it will also eat grasshoppers and a variety of insects, and is said to do great 

 .mischief in plantations by the quantities that it devours. The Turako is constantly on the alert 

 against danger, and on the slightest alarm raises its crest, which is usually laid flat, elevates its head, 

 and turns about with every symptom of fear, previous to seeking safety in some other locality, where 

 it conceals itself from pursuit with so much skill as to render its capture a work of difficulty, in spite 

 of the observation it attracts by its loud, hoarse cry. 



The second division of the Plantain Eaters constitutes a distinct group, called the 



SPLIT-BEAKS (Schisorliis), also inhabitants of Western and Central Africa, distinguishable 

 from the species already described by their elongated bodies and comparatively long wings, in which 

 the fourth quill is longer than the rest, and also by the construction of their beaks, which are strong, 

 and nearly as thick as they are broad ; the upper mandible is very decidedly curved, and but slightly 

 indented at its edges. The plumage of this group is dusky, and the crest upon the head of a peculiar 

 shape. 



THE ALARM BIRD. 



The Alarm Bird (Sdiizorhis zonurus) measures about one foot seven inches and a half in 

 length, and two feet four inches in breadth ; the wings and tail measure nine inches and a half. The 

 female is larger than her mate, but resembles him in other respects. In these birds the upper part of 

 the body is of an uniform brown, and the lower portion light grey from the breast downwards. The 

 elongated feathers which form the plume are bordered with white, those of the back, so far as they are 

 visible, blueish grey ; the quills are blackish browoi, and all except the first marked upon their inner 

 web with large, square white spots. The centre tail-feathers are light brown ; the four exterior ones 

 are brown at the tip, and from thence upwards white, broadly striped with brownish black at their 

 roots. The eyes are greyish brown, the beak greenish yellow ; the feet are dark grey. 



This species appears to be spread over a considerable portion of the African continent, and 

 travellers mention having seen it in Abyssinia, about the Blue River, and at the source of the White 



