ORDER SCANSORES. 530 



are exclusively peculiar to America. Their habits, manners, 

 and physiognomy are all the same — sad, sombre, and serious. 

 Their figure is massive, and ill put together. Their disposi- 

 tion stupid, taciturn, solitary, and lazy. They invariably 

 prefer covered retreats, and shun the open plains. They 

 neither go in flocks, nor in pairs. Their flight is short and 

 heavy. They place themselves on low branches only, and 

 experience much difficulty in putting themselves in motion. 

 Once fixed, they remain a long while in the same situation, 

 and accordingly are approached with facility. These birds 

 feed on fruits, scarabaei, and other large insects. They make 

 their nest in a hollow tree, and lay from two to four eggs. 



The opposite is a figure of the Collared Barhet, a descrip- 

 tion of which will be found in the text. 



The Trogons may dispute the palm of beauty with 

 the humming-birds. Their plumage in certain parts shines 

 Avith metallic brilliancy, and exhibits all the colours of the 

 rainbow. On other parts, the tints, though opake, are not 

 less rich and splendid ; but a very short neck, feet dispro- 

 portioned to their figure and bulk, and a long and broad tail 

 injure the harmony of their form, and give them a heavy 

 port and aspect. Their long attenuated feathers, with barbs 

 disarranged and luxuriant, make them appear more bulky 

 than they really are. These too are so feebly implanted, 

 that they fall at the slightest agitation. Their skin is so 

 delicate, that it will tear at the slightest tension. 



These birds are solitary, and extremely jealous of their 

 freedom. They never frequent inhabited or open tracts. 

 They delight in the silence of deserts, where they even fly 

 the society of their consimilars. The interior of the thickest 

 forests is their chosen abode for the entire year. They are 

 sometimes seen on the summit of trees, but in general they 

 prefer the centre, where. they remain a portion of the day 

 without descending to the ground, or even to the lower 

 branches. Here they lie in ambush for the insects which 



