THK TROr.ON MFAKANUS. 31:5 



to flic iiLsenro df tlio bairiiin' of tlio 1ail-fi\itliors when arrompaiiieil hy tlio fonnor 

 tlinvat'tor. 



Tho reiuarkablo plumage and sliy habits of tlio Trog-ons did not escape the observation 

 of the ancient Mexicans, in wliosc mythology one of the species, at least (Trognn puro- 

 iiiiiiix), was celebrated. Another species, tho Tzinitzniii of the Mexicans (Trogoii Oitnicci, 

 I-iiiii.), was en^ployc(l by them, according to Hernandez, in the fabrication of tlie figures 

 and ])iclures (ii/i(if/iiie-s) used on festivals, in war, and in their temples. They wcie 

 probably kept in one of the two liouses which formed the royal menagerie of ancient 

 Mexico, one of these houses being appointed to birds which did not live bv prey, the other 

 to birds of prey, quadrupeds, and reptiles. Three hundred men, according to Cortes, 

 were employed to take care of these birds, besides their physicians, who watched their 

 diseases and applied timely remedies. Of the three hundred attendants, some procured 

 their food, others distributed it, others took care of the eggs at the time of incubation ; 

 whilst others, at certain seasons, picked their plumage ; for the king not only delighted 

 in the sight of so many species, but was very careful of their feathers, for the sake of the 

 famous mosaic images and pictures, as well as of the other works which were made of 

 them. 



THE GOLDEN TUOCOX.* 



The most magnificent of the genus is the bird thus named, a rare and remarkable 

 species, of which neither delineation nor description can convey an adequate idea. The 

 greater proportion of the plumage is apparently composed of burnished gold. The head 

 ornamented by a brilliant (;rest, the wing-coverts f\^lliiig in flakes of golden-green 

 over the deep purplish- black of the primary and secondary quill feathers, the rich 

 carmine of the lower parts bestowing a warmth and depth of effect which no Venetian 

 painter ever equalled, and the long waving and highly metallic feathers of the tail- 

 coverts, extending about three times the length of the whole body, present a com- 

 bination of beautj' almost unexampled in the feathered tribes. The first si^ecimens seen 

 in this country were brought, we belie\-e, by !Mr. Schenley from Vera Paez, in Central 

 America. Thej- are very much sought after as head-gear b}' the Peruvian damsels. 



IROGOX MEXICANUS. 



The north of Mexico is the locality for this bird. Of an old male we have the followin"' 

 description from the pen of Mr. Gould : — " Beak bright yellow ; throat and ear-coverts 

 black, gradually blending with the green which covers the chest and the whole of the 

 npper surface ; two middle tail-feathers green, with black tips, the two next on each side 

 wholl}- black ; the three outer on each side black, with white tips ; wings black, the 

 whole of which, with the exception of the jirimaries, is finely dotted vnth. gray ; a crescent 

 of white encircles the chest ; breast, bellj^, and under, tail-coverts fine scarlet ; feet bro\\'n. 

 Total length, eleven to twelve inches ; wing, five and three-quarters ; tail, seven and 

 three-quarters. 



" The 3'oung male is distinguished from the adult by the gray freckles on the wings 

 being rather stronger, and more inclined to brown on the secondaries ; by the extreme 

 outer edge of the primaries being white ; and by the tail being regularly barred with 

 black and wdiite, which character is most consjjicuous on the outer edges. 



" The top of the head, throat, chest, and back of the female dark brown, inclining to 

 olive on the upper surface, and to rufous on the chest ; across the chest an obscure band 



* Ti'ognii jiavoiiius.-^Tcmiii. 



