Mr. T. C. Eyton’s Notes on Birds. 313 
The sternum of Zrogon has the inferior edge of the keel much 
arched, among the Kingfishers it is nearly straight ; it is also pro- 
ionately deeper, and has its anterior edge more deeply scol- 
loped than in that family. 
The branches of the os furcatum are less laterally flattened, 
and not so broad in Trogon as among the Kingfishers ; the former 
has also a process where that bone approaches the sternum, which 
is wanting among the latter. The terminal joint of the caudal 
vertebree is also larger in Trogon than among the Alcedia. 
The remainder of the skeleton is so precisely similar to that of 
the smaller species of Kingfishers that it is impossible to point 
out any distinctions. It is to be regretted that so little is known 
of the habits of the Trogons; I am informed however by Capt. 
A. Charlton, who has lately returned from Malacca with a large 
collection of objects of natural history, that they frequent only 
the dense forests of that country, sittmg nearly perpendicularly 
on branches of trees, and making, when an insect comes in view, 
a sudden dart in a straight line at it, returning often to the 
same bough which had previously been occupied. I am also in- 
formed by Mr. Gould, that Mr. Dyson, who has lately returned 
from Honduras with a collection of birds in spirits, of which the 
subject of this paper formed a part, made the same remark to 
him regarding the position of the bird when at rest, 
These observations confirm in a certain degree what the osteo- 
logy shows, namely a near affinity between the Kingfishers and 
Trogons in habit and in the mode of taking their prey by a sud- 
den dart. 
The intestinal anatomy merely bears that resemblance to the 
Cuculide which the anatomy of oneinsect-feeding bird often bears 
to another. 
The Trogonide therefore, as far as I am at present acquainted 
with them, appear to be, if I may be allowed the expression, a 
family of partially or wholly insect-feeding Kingfishers, and must 
be classed in a natural system near to that family. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE VIII. 
Fig. 1. Tongue, cesophagus, proventriculus and stomach. 
Fig. 2. Czca. 
Fig. 3. Sternum. 
Fig. 4. Coracoid. 
fig. 5. Scapular. 
Fig. 6. Portion of cranium, showing the lachrymal bones. 
Fig. 7. Pelvis, upper surface. 
Ann. & Mag. N. Hist. Vol. xvii. Z 
