Order II. PASSERES. 
Tribe IV. Conirostkes. 
The sixtli Family, 
MUSOPHAGIDiE, or Plantain-eaters, 
have the Bill moderate, broad at the base, the culmen much elevated, curved, and the sides much 
compressed towards the tip, which is strongly emarginated ; the Wings more or less lengthened and 
rounded ; the Tail long and broad ; the Tarsi moderate, strong, and covered in front with broad 
transverse scales ; the Toes long, and the outer one sometimes versatile. 
The first Subfamily, 
MUSOPHAGIN^, or Plantain-eaters, 
have the outer toe capable of being placed posteriorly. 
Mu SOPH AG a IserL* 
Bill large, broad and elevated at the base, with the culmen much advanced on the forehead, and 
curved to the tip ; the sides compressed, and the lateral margins curved ; the nostrils placed near the 
middle of the upper mandible, open, exposed, and oval. Wings short, with the fourth and fifth quills 
the longest, and the tertials long and broad. Tail long, rounded at the end, and with the feathers 
broad. Tarsi shorter than the middle toe, and covered in front with broad transverse scales. Toes 
long, with the lateral toes nearly equal, and the outer scarcely versatile. 
The typical species is fountl on plains near the borders of rivers in Africa, and it lives principally on the fruits of 
the plantain. 
M. violacea Isert, Le Vaill. Tour. t. 18. — Cuculus regius Shaw, Lev. Mus. pi. p. l67., Swains. Birds of W. Afr. i. pi. I9. 
Turacus Cuv.f 
Bill short, with the culmen elevated and arched to the tip, the sides much compressed, and the lateral 
margins finely serrated ; the nostrils placed in the middle of the upper mandible, large, and open, but 
in most more or less covered by the recumbent plumes. Wings short and rounded, with the fourth to 
the seventh quills the longest. Tail lengthened, broad, and rounded. Tarsi shorter than the middle 
toe, and covered in front with broad transverse scales Toes long, united at their base, and the sides 
margined by a membrane ; the lateral toes nearly equal, the outer one versatile ; the claws moderate, 
thick, and curved. 
These birds are only found on the continent of Africa, and we learn from Dr. A. Smith that one species ( T. 
porphyreolophus) inhabits the scattered thickets which occur along the coast of South Africa, in the densest portions of 
Avhich it seeks its food, which consists of fruits, &c. It is a very shy bird, and, unless the spot upon which it perches 
♦ Established by Isert in 1789 {Berl. Nahirf. iii. Ifi.). It is coequal with Phimiis of Wagler (]827). 
t It was in 1799 or 1800 that Cuvier established this genus, which is coequal with Touraco of Lace'pede (1800 or 1801), Corythaix of 
llliger (1811), Opuethu.i of Vicillot (18H)), an.l Spelecles of Wagler (1827). 
