ICX3 cassell's book of birds. 



The FIRE TOURACOS {Harpactes), a group of these birds inhabiting Southern Asia, are 

 recognisable by their powerful, much-curved, and smooth-margined beak, their partially-feathered feet, 

 short wings, and long, graduated tail. 



THE KARNA, OR MALABAR TROGON. 



The Karna, or Malabar Trogon {Harpactes Jasdattis), a well-known species, is of a chestnut- 

 brown on the upper portion of the body, and black on the head and throat ; the feathers of the wing- 

 covers are striped black and white, while the breast and entire under side are of a vivid scarlet • the 

 black throat is divided from the breast by a narrow white band ; a line from the back of the eyes to 

 the head is bright red, and a bare patch round the eye of a blueish shade ; the centre tail-feathers are 

 reddish brown, and those at the exterior black and white ; the eye is dark brown, the beak deep blue, 

 and the foot of a purplish hue. The female is without the black upon the head ; her upper secondary 

 quills and the feathers on the wing-covers are black and brown, and her entire under side oclire- 

 yellow. The length of this species is twelve and its breadth si.xteen inches ; the wing measures five 

 and the tail six inches. 



The Malabar Trogon, as we learn from Jerdon, " is found in the forests of Malabar, from the 

 extreme south to about seventeen degrees north latitude, reaching up the Ghats and hill ranges at least 

 3,000 feet. It is also found in some of the forests of Central India and in Ceylon. It, however, 

 usually prefers the more elevated situations, at about 2,000 feet or so, and keeps generally to the 

 thickest parts of the wood. It is often to be seen seated motionless on a tree, occasionally flying 

 off to capture an insect on the wing, sometimes returning to the same perch, but oftener taking up a 

 fresh position, and in this way wandering about a good deal. It is usually solitary, sometimes in 

 pairs, and I have seen four or five together. Its food consists of insects, chiefly coleopterous. I am 

 not aware of having heard its note, and certainly have found it generally a silent bird. Trikell, 

 however, says it has a wild, querulous note, like the mewing of a cat. Its Hindustani name is given 

 from its sitting with the head sunk into its shoulders, as if it had no head, or as if dressed in a 

 faquir's ku/ui." 



The FLOWER TOURACOS {Hapaloderma) are distinguished from the above birds by the 

 incised margins of their beaks, and the slenderness of the short, exterior tail-feathers. 



THE NARINA. 



The Narina {Hapalodenna narina), the only species of this group with which we are at present 

 acquainted, is of a magnificent golden green on the entire mantle, centre tail-feathers, and throat ; the 

 lower breast and belly are deep rose-red, the large wing-covers grey, striped with black, the quills 

 black, with white shafts, and the small wing-covers beautiful golden green ; the exterior tail-feathers 

 are white on the outer and blackish on the inner web. In the plumage of the female all these shades 

 are duller than in that of her mate ; her brow and throat are brownish red, and her tail-feathers 

 brownish black. 



Le Vaillant first discovered the Narina in the extensive forests of Caffraria, Rlippell met with it 

 near the Abyssinian coast, Heuglin at Fossokel and on the White River, and Du Chaillu on the 

 shores of the Zambesi ; we, ourselves, were only once lucky enough to see this beautiful bird, and that 

 was a few miles from the coast of the Red Sea. We learn from Jules Verreaux that in Southern 

 Africa the Narina principally frequents the mighty forests east of the Cape of Geod Hope. In these 

 retreats it leads a solitary and very sedentary life, only rousing itself to activity morning and evening^ 

 in order to procure food. So peculiar is the deportment of this bird as to render its identity quite 



