JACAMARS AND TROGONS — PUFF-BIRDS 



395 



(Trogonidw), represented by eight other genera, of which Ewptilotis, Tmetotrogon, 

 Prionotelus, and the typical Trogon (with some five-and-twenty species) are ex- 

 clusively tropical American, where some of the species range so far north as Mexico. 

 The remaining genera are found in the tropical parts of Asia and Africa. 



The quezal, which at one time tigured on the postage-stamps of Guatemala, 

 ranges as far north as Panama, but, owing to incessant persecution for the sake 

 of its beautiful plumage, has now become very scarce in its more accessible haunts. 

 The cock, whose head is ornamented with a large comb-like crest of feathers, has 

 the two middle feathers of the tail so elongated as to be fully four times the length 

 of the head and body, while 

 the lateral feathers are like- 

 wise of considerable length. 

 The general colour of this 

 maonihcent bird is bright 

 metallic green, but a consider- 

 able portion of the under 

 surface of the body is blood- 

 red. The female lacks a crest, 

 and has a much shorter tail 't 

 than her partner. 



In Guatemala the quezal 

 feeds on certain black fruits, 

 which communicate to its flesh 

 an odour of marjoram. Like 

 so many of the so-called 

 picarian birds, quezals, in com- 

 mon with other trogons, breed 

 in holes, but are reported to 

 lay pale blue eggs. 



An exclusively 

 South American 

 group is formed by the puff- 

 birds (Bucconidie), which re- 

 semble kingfishers in appear- 

 ance, habits, and size. Among 



them may be mentioned the russet-throated Bucco ruficollis, which, like the 

 others, has a disproportionately large beak, and when perching puffs out its 

 feathers till it resembles a ball ; the latter feature giving rise to the popular 

 name of the family. Puff-birds are represented by seven genera, of which the 

 typical Bucco contains by far the largest number of species, no less than twenty- 

 one being recognised by naturalists in 1900. They are connected with the 

 cuckoos by means of the two species of swallow-winged puff-birds (Chelidoptera). 

 None of the puff-birds ranges northward of Central America ; the distributional 

 area of the group extending in the opposite direction to Bolivia and the south of 

 Brazil. Resembling jacamars in the conformation of their feet, puff-birds are 

 distinguishable by the absence of after-shafts to the feathers of the body, and are 



Puff-Birds. 



RUSSET-THROATED PUFF-BIRD. 



