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VIOLET PLANTAIN-EATER. 
COnirostral type, but we. nevertheless think it should 
he candidly stated. According to our present views 
of the Cuculiilw, the plantain-eaters cannot enter 
into that circle. 
The colouring, however rich, can he described in 
a few words. The outer half of the upper and the 
whole of the under mandible is of a bright crimson, 
blending into a fine and deep yellow on the frontal 
or thickest part ; the orbits are entirely naked, and 
with the compact and velvet-like feathers of the 
crown, are of a glossy crimson ; the ears arc bordered 
above by a pure white stripe ; the whole of the 
secondary and part of the primary quills are of the 
richest carmine glossed with lilac, more or less mar- 
gined and tipt with the blackish violet which spreads 
over all the rest of the plumage ; this violet gloss, 
however, becomes very dark green on the under 
parts, and is particularly rich on the tail. The legs 
are strong and black; the great length of the 
middle toe, together with the thick, hooked, and 
very broad claws, evince how completely this and 
the plaintain-eaters are constructed for living among 
trees, a fact which must have been overlooked by 
those who have fancied the Musophagidw connected 
the perchers ( Imessores ) with the gallinaceous or 
rasorial tribes. The gape is very wide, and opens 
beneath the eyes. 
Total length about 20 inches ; bill from the gape, 
1 T 2 0 ; from the front; l-/ s ; wings, 8| ; tail beyond, 
4-j ; from the base, 8|- ; tarsus, 1| ; middle toe and 
claw, 2 ; lateral ditto, 1 fa ; hinder ditto, 
