green, inclining to bluish on the under parts; the quill-feathers are rich purple or violet; the beak is yellow; the feet greyish-black. The long silky crest of this beautiful bird, when under any excitement, is elevated into a somewhat conical form, compressed at the sides; and, when erected, imparts to the head an appearance as if covered with a helmet. The generic name applied to the bird alludes to this fancied resemblance, the word Corythaix (κορνθαϊξ), signifying one that moves the helmet. In a state of repose the crest-feathers fall down upon the head, and project behind.
We know but little of the manners of the Touracos in their native forests. Le Vaillant informs us that they usually keep on the highest branches of lofty trees, where, to the no small irritation of the eager naturalist, they were beyond the reach of his fowling-piece. An accident, in connexion with one of these birds, occurred to that enterprising traveller, which might have proved as tragical to him, as a similar misfortune did to the unhappy Drummond in the Sandwich Islands. Having succeeded, after many efforts, in bringing a Touraco to the ground, Le Vaillant searched for it in vain, and stamping with rage at his disappointment, he broke through into one of the covered pits which the Hottentots constructed for the entrapping of the large and ferocious animals, particularly elephants. "As soon" observes the naturalist, "as I began to recover from my surprise, I looked round to see how I might extricate myself from my embarrassing position, extremely happy that I had not been impaled on the sharp-pointed stake, placed upright in the bottom of the pit, and no less rejoiced that I found in it no company. I
