NATURAL HISTORY. 

 Family IV. Trogoiridse. 



ResplenJens (Lat. shining), the Resplendent Trogon. 



gorgeous family. Its long and gracefully curved tail, nearly 

 three feet long ; the whole of the upper surface, and the 

 throat, are a glowing green ; the breast and under parts are 

 bright crimson ; the middle feathers of the tail black, and the 

 outer feathers white. This splendid bird is an inhabitant of 

 Mexico, and was used by the Mexican nobles as an ornament 

 to their head dress. From the feathers of these and other 

 Trogons the mosaic pictures of the Mexicans were made. One 

 of these, moet delicately and beautifully executed, containing 

 many figures, is now in the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford. It 

 is there said to be made of humming-birds' feathers. The sub- 

 ject is " Christ fainting under the cross." The whole picture 

 is about the size of the palm of the hand, and the figures are 

 barely half an inch in height, yet the very expression of the 

 features is preserved. 



