MUS0PHAGID2E TUBACUS 215 



Length 18-0; wing 7-0; tail 8-25 ; culmenl'O; tarsus 1-70. 



The female resembles the male. 



Distribution. — The Knysna Lourie is found only in the southern 

 and eastern forested portions of South Africa from George in the 

 Colony eastwards through Natal, Zululand, and the eastern 

 Transvaal. 



The following are recorded localities : Cape Colony — George and 

 Knysna (Victoria), Stockenstroom (Atmore), King Williams Town 

 (Bt. Mus.), Peddie and Port St. John's (S. A. Mus.), Bast London 

 (Barratt and Eickard); Natal— Near Durban (Shelley), St. Lucia 

 Lake (Woodward) ; Transvaal — Near Barber ton (Eendall), Ly den- 

 burg dist. (Barratt). 



Habits. — This bird, known as the Touraco or Plantain Eater in 

 Europe, as the Lourie in South Africa, is entirely confined to forest 

 districts, where it frequents high trees, seldom descending except 

 during rainy weather ; its flight is very light and graceful as it 

 glides from bush to bush, feeding on wild figs and other forest 

 fruits ; the old birds are usually seen in pairs, the younger ones in 

 small parties. 



The cry is a loud croaking sound uttered in early morning and 

 at sundown ; at this time they are easily traced, but during the day 

 when they are silent it is very difficult to find them. The nest is 

 built like that of a pigeon, of sticks laid horizontally in the centre 

 of a thick bush usually about ten feet above the ground, and is of 

 the size of a large dinner plate ; the eggs five in number are pure 

 white, and of about the same size as those of a tame pigeon, 

 according to Eickard who found a nest near East London on 

 January 27. 



Perhaps the most interesting pecuharities about this bird (which 

 it shares with most of the other members of the family) is the 

 presence of a peculiar red pigment on the wing-feathers, named by 

 Professor Church {Phil. Trans., vol. 159, pp. 627-636 (1870), and 

 vol. 183 A., p. 511 (1893), Turacin. 



This pigment is soluble to a certain extent in water and exceed- 

 ingly so in a soapy {i.e., alkaline) solution, and it has been observed 

 by Verreaux and many others since, that during heavy rains these 

 birds descend from the higher branches of the trees and seek shelter 

 in the lower and thicker undergrowth to avoid the wet, but that 

 notwithstanding this their plumage often becomes so saturated with 

 moisture that they are quite unable to fly and they can then be 

 caught with the hand. At this time the greater part of the red 

 colouring matter of the wings has become washed out. The same 



