TROGONID.E: TROGONS. bib 



two before and two behind, and thus apparently zygodactylous, but in a peculiar way ; for the 

 1st and 2d digits point backward, the 3d and 4th forward. This arrangement is called hetero- 

 dacti/lons, and it is furilier pronounced in the disposition of the flexor hallucis, which supplies 

 both hind toes, the flexor digitorum supplying the front toes, by the arrangement known as 

 heteropehnous. The inyological formula is A X, as in the Kingfishers ; that is, the femoro- 

 caudal and semitendinosus are both present, but their respective accessories absent, as is also 

 the ambiens. The palate is schizognathous ; basipterygoids are present. The sternum is 

 4-notched ; oil-gland nude, but caeca present ; one carotid. General pterylosis passerine ; 

 spinal tract unbrauched ; aftershafts very long; rectrices 12. One family, of warm parts of 

 both hemispheres. 



Family TROGONID^ : Trogons. 



Heterodactyloiis and heteropehnous PicaricB (see above). Feet very small and weak, un- 

 fitted for progression ; the birds perch in wait and dart into the air for their prey, somewhat 

 like Flycatchers, whether their food be insects or fruits. Bill short and stout, with hooked 

 tip usually dentate or denticulate on the tomia, its base more or less hidden by appressed an- 

 trorse feathers, and further garnished with bristles. Wings short and rounded. Tail long, 

 of 12 broad feathers (in one genus with extraordinary development of the upper coverts in 

 the (^). General plumage soft and lax, of gorgeous coloration, well aftershafted ; skin tender; 

 eyelids lashed. No subfamilies need be recognized in this compact group of nearly or quite 50 

 species ; but the genera are several. The most splendid of these is Fharomacnis, with 4 spe- 

 cies of Central and South America, as P. mocinno, the famous Quesal or Paradise bird, as 

 large as a Magpie, with the glitter of a Hummingbird, and a long flowing traiu which a Pea- 

 cock might envy, if grace to be tasteful as well as showy were given that proud bird. A 

 Mexican Trogon is Buptiloti!^ neojcemts. The Cuban is Prionotclus temnurus ; the Haitian 

 is Tmetotrorfon (or Tenuiotrogon) rhodogaster. The African Trogons are three species of the 

 genus Hapaloderma, as H. narina. Those of the Orient are more numerous species of 

 the genera Harpactes aud HapKdarpactes. The remaining s{)ecies of the family belong to the 

 genus 



TROtiON. (Gr. rpwycoi/, a gnawer : alluding to the dentate bill.) Toothed Trogox.s. 

 Tiie leading genus of the family in number of species, about 25, all American, one of them 

 reaching our borders. In all these the bill is dentate as well as hooked at the end, and the 

 sexes ditfer in tlie coloration of the middle tail-feathers. 



T. ambi'guus. (Lat. ambiguous, equivocal, as doubtfully distinct from T. mexicanus ; but it 

 is a perfectly good species. Fig. 390.) Copper-tailed Trogon. Adult $ : Above, metal- 

 lic green, glancing g(dden, bronzy or coppery ; middle tail-feathers -,-»-■-.■ 

 the latter, broadly black tipped; outer tail-feathers white for a long 

 space, but mostly vermiculated with narrow black zigzags; wing- 

 coverts and inner quills finely undulated with black and white : pri- 

 maries fuscous, with light edging. Front and sides of 1m ad blackish : 

 breast like back, with a pure white band; rest of under jtarts rich 

 red-carmine, scarlet, or vermilion. Length about 11.50; wing 5.25; 

 tail ().75. 9 : Urown where the $ is green, gray where he is black, 

 the middle tail-feathers quite rufous. Young birds vary interminably f,o 390. — Head of Cop- 

 in acquiring the coloration of the adults. Mexico to the U. S. bor- per-taiied Trogon, uat. size, 

 der, in the lower Rio Grande valley of Texas, in New Mexico, and in Arizona. It is a regular 

 summer visitant in the mountains of southern Arizona, and breeds there in June; it has been 

 ob.served from May to Aujjust, and young birds liave been taken, but the nest and eggs remain 

 to be discovered (IKMj). 



