P R I O N I T E S Mexicanus. 

 Meocican Motmot. 



Family Trogonidye. Sulj-faiuily Prioiiitina;. Kob. 

 {See Northern Zoology, 2. p. 326.) 



Specific Character. 



Small, above green, beneath paler ; head and neck above cinnamim, 

 cars black, varied and tipped with bright blue stripes ; belly 

 white. 



Momotiis Martii. Jardine ^ Sclby. 111. of Orn. 2 pi. 25. 

 Prioiiites Mexicanus. Swa/7is. Phil. Mag. June \S27.p. 442. 



The Motmots, so named from their monotonous note, live 

 only in the tropical forests of the New World, preferring- 

 tliose deep recesses of perpetual shade, where a high canopy 

 of matted foliage, nearly excludes the rays of a vertical sun. 

 They appear even more solitary in their disposition than the 

 Trogons ; their note may be heard, morning and evening, 

 from the depths of the forests, but the bird is never seen, 

 unless the hunter comes unexpectedly upon its retreat. 

 This we have generally found to be a low, withered branch, 

 completely shaded, and just at the edge of such paths as are 

 made by the Cavies, or the Indians. The Jacama&«nd the 

 Trogons both love these shady nooks, where they sit nearly 

 motionless, watching for passing insects, upon which they 

 dart. Such is, no doubt, the manner in which the Motmot 

 feeds ; but his strong confirmation enables him to capture 

 larger game. Travellers assert that he also devours the 

 eggs and young of other birds, like the Toucans : this we 

 believe, as both have the same long and feather-like tongue. 

 Thus has nature allied these two groups, each standing at 

 the confines of their own tribe : incontestably proving the 

 union of the Scansores, Teniurostres, and Fissirostres, into 

 one great circle. 



Tlie present species has only been found in Mexico, 

 although the London Ornithologists have confounded it 

 with the Prionites Martii of Brazil. Hence the error of Sir 

 W. Jardine and Mr. Selby, and adopted upon our plate. 

 Distrusting our first opinion, we believed the London co- 

 adjutors of these gentlemen, having access to the original 

 work of Dr. Spix, could not have made such a blunder, hut 

 a personal inspection of the original figure decided the 

 question. No two species can well be more different. 



81. 



