TROGONS 



13' 



For years it lias been a matter of common ob- 

 servation that these birds feed largely on cater- 

 pillars, but, until a number of stomachs had been 

 examined, it was not known how great a pro- 

 portion of their food is made up of these harm- 

 ful insects. The examinations indicated that 

 caterpillars of various species, including some of 

 the most destructive, constitute more than 48 

 per cent, of their food. One stomach coniained 

 at least J50 tent catcri)illars, probably a whole 

 colony, in the young stage. In another J17 

 heads of the fall webworm were counted, and 

 this probably fell far short of the real number, 

 as these larvre are very small, and in many in- 

 stances nothing but jaws remained undigested. 



Many cateriiillars are protected from the at- 

 tacks of birds and parasitic insects by a covering 

 of hair, and hairy caterpillars are only rarely 



eaten by most birds. Cuckoos, however, seem to 

 prefer them to the smooth kind, and aj^parently 

 eat them whenever they can be found. Cater- 

 pillar hairs are often stiff, bristly, and shar]) al 

 the end, like minute thorns, and it frequently 

 happens that when a Cuckoo's stomach is oix-ned 

 and emi)tied it is found to be completely furred 

 on the inside by hairs which have pierced the 

 inner lining and become fast. Cuckoos eat many 

 noxious insects besides caterpillars, such as 

 beetles, bugs, and grasshoppers. Unfortunately, 

 they are naturally rather shy birds, preferring 

 the edges of the woodland and groves to the 

 more open cultivated grounds and orchards. If. 

 however, they are unmolested, they soon gain 

 confidence, and in many cases frequent shade 

 trees about houses and lawns, or even in the 

 very heart of the city. 



TROGONS 



Order Coccyges; suborder Trogoues; family Trugonidcc 



HE Trogons are forest birds, and therefore arboreal, passing their entire life 

 among the trees, where they nest in natural cavities or in those abandoned by 

 Parrots or the larger Woodpeckers. They feed chiefly on fruits and insects, 

 both of which they take while flying. As a group the Trogons are celebrated 

 for their beauty of plumage, some of the species being among the most 

 beautiful of birds, the magnificent Quetzal { Pharomachrus mociuno), of 

 Guatemala, excelHng even the far-famed Birds of Paradise in the gorgeous 

 beauty of its plumage and exquisite grace of form. 



The Trogons are found in the tropics of both hemispheres; but they are 

 most numerous in America, where eight genera and about thirty-two species 

 occur. One species only is found north of Mexico, the Copper>--tailed Trogon, 

 and it is rare. 



The special characteristics of the Trogon fainily are: bill short (much shorter than the 

 head), broad at the base, and the edges toothed; the gape or corners of the mouth well 

 covered with bristle-tipped feathers; feet weak, the lower section of the leg shorter than 

 the longest front toe, and front toes united for about half their length; wing short, rounded, 

 and ver>' concave underneath; tail longer than the wing and composed of twelve feathers; 

 plumage dense and soft and easily detached; colors bright, brilliantly metallic in adult males, 

 and the under parts of the body pure red, orange, or yellow; young usually spotted and 

 without bright colors. 



COPPERY-TAILED TROGON 

 Trogon ambiguus (Gould) 



A. O. U. Number 389. 



General Description. — Length, ii-34 inche.s. Males 

 are metallic bronze-green above, and geranium-red 

 below; females are brown above, and pale geranium- 

 red below. 



Color. — .•\dult Male: Forehead (sometimes part, 

 Vol. II — 10 



occasionally whole of crown, also), black; back of head 

 (usually part of crown), hindneck. back, shoulders, and 

 forward portion of lesser wing-covert region, bright 

 metallic-green, bronze-green, or golden-bronze, passing 

 into metallic pure green or bronze-green, on rump and 



