2 PASSERES. TROGONID.E. 



cing hither and thither, and that ever and anon, 

 the bird sallies out upon a short feeble flight, 

 snaps at something in the air, and returns to his 

 twig to swallow it. It is instructive to note by 

 how various means the wisdom of God has or- 

 dained a given end to be attained. The Swallow 

 and the Tody live on the same prey, insects on 

 the wing, and the short, hollow, and feeble 

 wings of the latter are as effectual to him as 

 the long and powerful pinions are to the Swal- 

 low. He has no powers to employ in pursuing 

 insects, but he waits till they come within his 

 circumscribed range, and no less certainly secures 

 his meal. 



The Tody forms burrows, with the aid of both 

 beak and claws, in earthy banks and the sides of 

 ditches and ravines. At the bottom of its hole, 

 which runs in a winding direction to the extent of 

 a foot or more, and terminates in a sufficiently 

 wide chamber, it collects fibres of roots, dry 

 grass, moss, and cotton, and lays four or five eggs. 

 The young do not emerge from the hole until 

 they are fledged. 



FAMILY IV. TROGONID^E. 



(Trogons.) 



This is a small and compact group of birds of 

 considerable size, remarkable for the brilliancy 

 and beauty of their plumage. The colour of the 

 upper parts is for the most part green, which 

 reflects the splendour of burnished metal, while 

 that of the under parts is frequently of the 

 richest hues, blood-red, scarlet, rose-pink, orange, 



