TROGONS. 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 quiet without having 

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

 stopping now and then 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. 



Among the smaller birds in these forests, the trogons a 

 genus of scansorial birds are the most beautiful, surpassing 

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

 numerous varieties, differing in size from the trogon viridis, 

 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 apparently 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 

 others but a few feet above the ground occasionally uttering 

 a mournful note, which sounds like curucua, the name which 

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

 hunter," says Edwards ; " but they are great ventriloquists, 



