XXIX 



CRESTS OR TOP-KNOTS 



361 



The European hoopoe visits the Nile Valley and 

 British East Africa in winter. The African hoopoe 

 has feathers of a deeper red than the European 

 species and the wing-markings ai'e different. The 

 Wood- Hoopoes of East Africa are interesting hirds ; 

 they have no crest but a long tail a.nd their plumage is 

 iridescent. These noisy birds climb the trunks of trees 

 in spite of their long tails and hunt for insects in the 

 bark like woodpeckers. 



The Great Crested Touraco (Corylhu-ola cristutns). This hand- 

 some coloured bird has an abundant but untidy top-knot. 

 It is the largest member of the family Mnsojjhaijidn', which 

 is the Latinised expression of plantain-eater. The noise 

 made by Touracos is one of the characteristic sounds of a 

 Uganda forest. 



The Touracos, plantain-eaters or Lowries, are peculiar 

 to the African forests. They are striking birds and 

 arrest attention either on account of the noises they 

 make, or their l)eautiful plumage. Touracos may be 

 said to haunt the forest an<l they delight in ])ursuing 

 each otlicr between the trunks or among the branches 

 of the highest trees. Tlie noises they make resemble 

 men bawling to each other, and similar animal sounds. 



