II2 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 
The Colies, or Mouse-birds, of South Africa are 
small, crested, long-tailed, loose-plumaged birds whose 
exact relationships are somewhat puzzling. The name 
Mouse-bird is given on account of the habit of creeping 
along the boughs of trees with the whole foot applied 
to the branch. The toes are peculiar in that all turn 
forwards, and are commonly so retained. About ten 
species are known, ranging from Abyssinia southwards. 
Resplendent without doubt are the majority of the 
forms which we have been lately considering, but prob- 
ably the palm for gorgeous coloration should be given to 
the Trogons — at least they must be allowed to share 
the honours with the Humming-birds. 
The most splendid of all is the QuEZAL, the male 
of which has a train of great length, resembling at first 
sight a tail. But, as in the peacock, this is formed 
by enormously elongated tail-coverts, concealing the true 
tail. These tail-coverts differ, however, markedly from 
those in the peacock in that they are not erectile, 
but pendent. The head is ornamented with a large, 
rounded crest; the ground-colour of the upper parts of 
the plumage is of brilliant metallic green; the under 
parts from the chest downwards are of a deep blood-red. 
Certain of the covert-feathers of the wing form elegant 
drooping plumes, hanging down on either side and giving 
a wonderfully beautiful effect. 
The late Mr. Salvin’s account of this bird in its 
wild state is well worth quoting. Hunting with a 
native for this bird in the forest, where alone it is to be 
met with, he writes : “ A distant clattering note indicates 
that the bird is on the wing. He settles — a splendid 
male — on a bough of a tree, not sev^enty yards from 
where we are hidden. Cipriano wants to creep up to within shot, but I keep him back, 
wishing to risk the chance of losing a specimen rather than miss such an opportunity of seeing 
the bird in its living state, and of watching its movements. It sits almost motionless on its 
perch, the body remaining in the same position, the head only moving from side to side. The 
tail is occasionally jerked open and closed again, and now and then slightly raised, causing the 
long tail-coverts to vibrate gracefully. I have not seen all. A ripe fruit catches the quezal’s 
eye, and he darts from his perch, hovers for a moment, picks the berry, and returns to his 
former position. This is done with a degree of elegance that defies description.” 
Photo by A. 5 *. Rudland < 5 ?* Sons 
RACKET-TAILED MOTMOT 
Note the mutilated tail-feathers 
CHAPTER XIV 
TOUCJNS, HONEy-GUIDES, JACAMARS, AND PUFF-BIRDS, BARBETS 
AND ' TFOODPE CKER S 
G audy in plumage, and somewhat ungainly in appearance, it must nevertheless be admitted 
that the Toucans form an exceedingly interesting group of birds. On account of their 
huge and gaily coloured beaks, they have been imagined to be related to the Hornbills ; 
but even judging by this character, the two groups may be readily distinguished ; for whereas 
the typical beak of the hornbill is surmounted by a large casque, the beak of the toucan is 
