956 A JOURNEY UP THE RIVER CONGO. 
turn its toes any way; but Coliws, according to the late © 
Professor Garrod, ought to be separated entirely from the 
Musophagide, and to be placed in a group by itself ap- 
proaching the Cuckoos. Curiously enough, though there 
are several species of touracos (Corythaiz) in Angola, that 
genus is unrepresented on the Congo, the only other 
member of the Musophagide group, besides the above- 
mentioned Schizorhis, being the beautiful violaceous plan- 
tain-eater (Musophaga violacea) which is occasionally met 
with on the Lower river, especially between Vivi and 
Isangila. Colies (Colius) are most abundant everywhere. 
On the islands of Stanley Pool, and indeed everywhere 
on the Upper Congo, the grey parrot is present—well, it 
is a moderate estimate to say—in thousands. The high 
trees are covered with them, and their red tails are always 
enlivening the foliage with bits of scarlet colour. It does 
not seem to be generally kncwn that the grey parrot has 
a great variety of note in a wild state. Its whistling is: 
most melodious, especially of an early morning, when the 
birds fly out from the forest for an airing. The little 
Peocephalus parrot is common on the mainland round 
Stanley Pool, and seems a quarrelsome and noisy little ~ 
bird. It is always quarrelling, more particularly with a 
species of roller (Hurystomus) that appears to invade its 
haunts and seek unnecessary disputes. ‘The natives say 
this Zurystomus attacks the nests of Pwocephalus in the 
hollow cavities of the baobab-trees, and eats the callow 
young. If so, this noisy little parrot may have some — 
excuse for its screeching. The species of roller to which 
I refer is a bird with a large yellow hooked beak, some- 
what broad and flattened, and weak toes armed with 
powerful claws, with the hinder toe directed somewhat 
forward or “inward,” so that the toes appear nearly all 
four in a row. Its colours are beautiful. The head, kack, 
and mantle are rich chocolate-brown; on the breast this 
changes to a lovely mauve, while the belly and outer 
tail-feathers are a pale sea- -blue. The quills and central 
tail-feathers are ultramarine. J wounded one of these 
birds once, and kept it alive during over three months 
i rap ea al 
