Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-01-17
THE PlANTAlN EATERS.

Description OF Three Of the Most Beaati-
full Brds in the World
Amsng the many beautiful birds found
in western Africa, none will compare
with those bearing the name of plantain
eaters, being SO called because they feed
on plantains and other fruits. The nat
uralists call them Musophagide, but it Is
not at all likely that our boys and girls
prefer this to the more easily remem-
bered name appearing at the head of this
article.
They are chiefly found in the forests
Of Senegal, and sometimes specimens are
met with on the coast of Guinea. A
somewhat similar species is also seen in
South America.
The beautiful pluinage of this variety
of bird fully justiiies the statement made
by Bruce. the famous naturalist, that it
is lone of the princes of the feathered
creation"
The most notable of its kind is the vio-
let plantain eater. 1t is a large, ele-
gantly proportional bird, twenty inches
in length. whose general plumage is of a
shining, blackiSh purple, set off to great
advantage by the deep lilac and crimson
of its wings, combination of colors
seen in no other bird in the world
1t has large bill, the outer half of
the upper and the whole of the under
mandible being of bright crimson,
shaded off at the front or thickest part
into brilliant yellow, and then merg-
ing into crimson again on the crown and
back part of the head. Around the eyes
is IA naked space which enhances the
Above its ears is pure white stripe, ex-
tending backward and downward al
most to the upper edge of its neck.
Nearly onehalf of the lower part of the
wings is of deep carmine hue, CLOSED
with lilac, the margins being tipped with
the blacklist violet color that spreads over
the rest of its body. This dark violet be-
comes very dark green on the under
parts, and is particularly rich on the tail
The legs are black, and its thick, hooked
and very broad claws, of the same shade,
show that it is fitted for living among
trees. This formation is seen in all birds
requiring superior powers of grasping,
the middle toe of this particular species
being of sufficient length to encircle any
ordinary sized branch.
Another elegant specimen of this family
is the varegated or crested plantain eater,
SO named on account of its very peculiar
crest or ''topknot." which is placed di-
rectly on the nape of the neck, and not,
as in the majority of crested birds, on
the top or crown of the head. The gen
eral color Of the upper parts of this bird
is very light gray, With a narrow. black
ish stripe down each feather. The front
and top of the head and the whole Of the
chin and throat as far as the breast is
chestnut brown. -
The under plumage beyond the breast
is white, each feather having a dark
stripe down the middle, while the pri-
mary and secondary quilts of the wings
are blackish, with pure white spot,
varying in size in the middle of EACH
The feathers in the middle of the tail are
gray, with black tips. those on the end
being entirely gray. Its bill is pure vel
low thtouSHou'' ''ie crillsoh seen III the
vioie' Pian'aih ea'cr neihs absent and
It's it,sS are gray us fehSth is 'he same
as .ne If9t 'ne'i''ohe1 variety but lis
ihiduie 'oes anu claws are somewhat
smarter
ou'i announcer 1ih' Is ca'ied the crowned
p'an'ain cater OF '''aeSai toufaco' and
rivals IN beauty It's violet hued com
pan'ol'' Like 'he ORA just deScr'oed' It's
oniieA a''fac'ioh = hiasn'ilcent crest.
Inc "h"'e OF 'ne head' including the
cre7t, It's NECK, WING covers ana around
'ie shooidefs Is grass green without any
gloss ana tfis coior also extends TO the
uhutr plullase as lar as the breast, be-
yohn "iiich IL becomes ooscured and
uarkencd WIN u niacAish nue.. Ihe bill
~ o'achish purple In the middle. but
a,ohg '''e cages ana withln the margin
Oh the SiueS IL Is bright crimson. the
ups Oh oo'h upper ana lower mandibles