TROGOXS. 495 



eating rice, farina, every kind of flesh, fish, and vegetables ; 

 and drinking coffee too. As soon as it saw him, basin in hand, 

 it would climb up to the edge, and not be qidet mthout having 

 a share ; which it would lick up with the greatest satisfaction, 

 stopping now and tlien to look knowingly round, — as much as 

 to say, " This coffee is very good," — and then sipping again 

 with increased gusto. 



It has a pretty, clear whistle, which the Indians imitate, 

 making it reply, and stare about in a vain search for its com- 

 panions. 



TROGONS. 



Amon;:;' the smaller birds in these forests, the trogons — a 

 genus of scansorial birds — are the most beautiful, sui'})assing 

 their relatives found in other parts of the world. There are 

 numerous varieties, differing in size — from the trogon vHiridis, 

 scarcely larger than a sparrow, to the beautiful trogon, with 

 its handsome tail, the size of a rook. Often they are to be 

 seen in the depths of the forest, sitting motionless for hours 

 together, simply moving their heads, watching a[)parently for 

 insects, or sometimes scanning the neighbouring trees for fruit. 

 Having selected a ripe one, they dart off now and then at 

 long intervals to secure it, returning always to the same perch. 



Their wings are feeble, and they are of a dull, inactive tem- 

 perament. They have long spreading tails, and a dense 

 plumage, which makes them appear larger than they are in 

 reality. They are solitary birds, and may be seen sitting 

 singly, or in pairs — some species on the taller trees, and 

 othel^s but a few feet above the gi'ound — occasionally uttering 

 a moumful note, which sounds like curucua, — the name whicli 

 the Indians give to them. " This wcjuld betray them to the 

 hunter," says Edwards; ''but they are great vcnti'ilo(piists, 



