TEOGONS. 



475 



been fed a long time by 

 these kind and thought- 

 ful birds. If this is true, 

 it is worthy the atten- 

 tion of moralists. 



Trogons, like Barbets, 

 have the bases of their 

 beaks covered with hairs. 

 Their soft and silky 

 plumage glitters with 

 the most brilliant hues, 

 and their tails are ex- 

 tremely long. They very 

 strongly resemble the 

 birds of night by their 

 unsociable nature and 

 melancholy dispositions, 

 and by the solitary lives 

 they pass in the wildest 

 parts of woods. Like 

 them, also, they only go 

 out in the morning and 

 evening to seek the in- 

 sects and caterpillars 

 which form their prin- 

 cipal nourishment. The 

 presence of man does 

 not frighten them; and 

 this confidence often leads 

 to their death, for they 

 are actively pursued for 

 their flesh, which is said 

 to be excellent, and also 

 for their very beautiful 

 feathers. Their name 

 Couroucous arises from 

 the cry which they utter 

 at breeding-times. They 

 inhabit the intertropical 



Fig, 194. — Eesplendent Trogona {Trogon {Calurus) 

 rtsplendens, Cjrould). 



