LIFE HISTORY OF THE QUETZAL—-SKUTCH 293 
seen after the departure of the fiedglings, the male was the sole 
attendant. 
The nestlings, dull blackish on the upper parts when first clothed 
with feathers, became increasingly green after they were 2 weeks old. 
This was accomplished by overlaying the down feathers by green- 
tipped contour feathers whose development had at first lagged behind 
that of others in the same tract. The expansion of the feathers of 
highland trogons and motmots begins earlier than with their lowland 
relatives but may be carried out more gradually. - This appears to be 
an adaptation to the cooler climate of the highlands. 
Two nestlings, which had been removed for photography and exami- 
nation, flew from their low nest at the age of 23 days. In two high, 
inaccessible nests, the nestlings remained for about a month. 
The first fledgling to leave the nest received at first the whole atten- 
tion of its father, while during 4 hours or more the second called 
in vain for food. At the end of the day, the parent returned to feed 
the second fledgling. 
