THE VIOLET PLANTAIN-EATER. 
865 
and its highly movable crest being continually raised or depressed, giving it a very spirited 
aspect. 
It is gregarious, living in little companies of four or five in number, and is continually 
jumping and running about the branches in search of its food, which consists of fruit and 
buds. The grasp of its feet is very powerful, as much so indeed as that of the parrot ; and 
while traversing the boughs it may often be seen hanging by its feet with its head downward, 
and occasionally remaining for some time suspended by a single foot. La Vaillant says that 
this bird, in common with other members of the same family, is fond of sleeping in this 
singular attitude, and that in the early morning it may often be found so benumbed with cold , 1 
that it can be taken by hand before it can loosen its hold from the bough which it grasps so 
firmly. 
Owing to the formation of its feet, which are almost wholly formed for grasping, it is 
seldom seen on the ground, and when it has alighted, is awkward in its movements. Among 
the boughs, however, it is all life and energy, leaping about with a quick vivacity that reminds 
the observer of our common long-tailed titmouse. In climbing from one branch to another, as 
in lowering themselves, the Colies frequently use their beaks to aid them, after the well- 
known practice of the parrots. 
The nests of the Colies are all large and rounded, and are generally placed in close prox- 
imity to each other, five or six being often found on the same branch. The materials of which 
they are made are slender twigs externally, lined with mosses and soft feathers. The number 
of the eggs is from four to six. When fat and in good condition, the flesh is said to be deli- 
cate and tender. In size it is about equal to a blackbird. 
The general color of this species is a rather light chestnut-gray, brightening into ruddy 
fawn on the forehead. The crest is composed of fine and slender feathers. The nape of the 
neck takes a blue tint, and the back is gray, changing to slaty -blue on the upper tail-coverts. 
The chin and the abdomen are pearl -gray, and the chest is of the same light ruddy fawn as the 
forehead. The beak is thick and sturdy, and is black at the tips, and brown towards the 
base. 
Allied to the colies we find another curious and interesting group of birds called the 
Plantain -eatees. 
These birds are natives of Africa, where they are not at all uncommon, and in the forests 
which they frequent may be seen flitting among the branches of the lofty trees, gliding among 
the boughs with great adroitness, and displaying their shining silken plumage to the best 
advantage. They are wary birds, and seem to have tolerably accurate ideas respecting the ' 
range of shot, for they mostly keep to the highest parts of the tree, and can but seldom be 
approached sufficiently near to be killed by the gun. Their food is almost wholly composed 
of fruits, and for feeding on such substances they are well suited by their large and peculiarly 
formed beaks. 
They are all handsome birds, their dimensions averaging those of the European jay, and 
their plumage glancing with violet, green, purple, and red of different shades. One oi the 
finest of the species is the Violet Plantain-eatee, a bird which is found about Senegal and 
the Gold Coast. It is remarkable for the extraordinary shape and dimensions of the beak, which 
is everywhere large and prominent, but is especially swollen towards the base, where it 
expands into a large shield-like mass of horny substance, which spreads over the forehead as 
far as the crown, where it terminates in a semicircular thickened line. The ridge of the beak 
is greatly arched, and its sides are much compressed. Its color is equally singular with its 
shape, for it is of a fine golden -yellow, passing into rich crimson on the upper part of the 
base. 
The top of the head is crimson, not unlike that of the beak, and the feathers are very soft 
and fine, bearing a velvety or plush -like aspect. The general color of the plumage is very deep 
violet, appearing black in the shade, and glossed with rich green in many lights. Part of the 
primary quills of all the secondaries are carmine, softening into delicate lilac, and tipped with 
deep violet. The large and powerful legs are black. 
