102 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 
apparently washed out — a supposition justified 
by the discovery still later that the water in 
which captive species had been bathing was 
strongly tinged with colour. A little more 
than thirty years ago these facts came under 
the notice of Professor Church, who, as a 
result of a thorough examination of the 
mystery, was enabled to announce the dis- 
covery of a new animal pigment containing 
copper, which he called “ turacin.” 
There are twenty-five different species of 
plantain-eaters, which are divided into two 
groups — those which have red in the quills 
and those without. All are forest-dwellers, 
feeding upon various wild fruits, building a 
nest of sticks resembling that of a pigeon, 
and laying therein three white eggs. The 
majority of the species are crested and 
brilliantly coloured, but a few are quite 
soberly clad. The largest of the tribe is 
nearly 3 feet long, and a brief description of 
its coloration will serve to convey a notion 
of the beauty of the more gorgeously clad 
members. In this species, then, the upper 
surface of the body is blue, the tail yellow, 
with a blue base and black bar across the 
tip, the under surface of the body rufous 
brown, the bill yellow, with a scarlet tip, and 
the eye red. 
Though the tops of the highest trees 
seem to be their favourite resort, these birds are 
found also among the dense tangled masses 
of creepers near the ground, flitting, when 
disturbed, in graceful curves, and alighting 
with crest erected and the tail turned sharply 
upwards. The powers of flight appear to v'ary 
among the different species, some being described as decidedly clumsy on the wing, whilst others, 
on the contrary, are light and graceful. Shy and very restless, they are very difficult to 
procure, when wounded running with great speed, and taking shelter in holes in trees. Their 
flesh is esteemed a great delicacy by the natives. Save during rain or the heat of midday, 
they appear to be very noisy birds, having a harsh note, varied with cat-like mewings. 
Photo by J, T. Newman 
YOUNG CUCKOO IN REED-WARBLER'S NEST 
This photograph was taken in August, an unusually late date to find 
these birds in the nest 
CHAPTER XII 
ROLLERS, KINGFISHERS, HOR NEILLS, AND HOOPOES 
C ROVV-LIKE birds of brilliant coloration, the ROLLERS have earned their name from the 
habit of occasionally rolling or turning over in their flight, after the manner of 
tumbler-pigeons. One species at least visits Britain occasionally, only to be shot down 
at once by the insatiable pot-hunter and collector of rare birds. They are birds of wide 
distribution, occurring over the greater part of the Old World, and, as we have already 
remarked, of brilliant coloration, blue and green, varied with reddish, being the predominating 
colours. As with all birds of beautiful plumage, they are subjected to much persecution, 
