:::"::::*f TWO bird- LOVERS IN MEXICO ;*:-""" 



limited area in pursuit of other birds. Numerous as 

 these birds were, all about our camp, we never once 

 heard the nocturnal cry, which has given them their 

 odd name o£ Parauque. 



Our favourite tangle was seldom without its comple- 

 ment of Yellow-bellied Trogons — generally a closely 

 associated flock of three or four individuals, betraying 

 their presence by an occasional soft duch ! They are 

 very similar to the rose-coloured trogons of our former, 

 more elevated camp, but the rose is replaced with a 

 delicate lemon yellow. These birds fed upon small 

 berries which grew on slender twigs, too slight to sup- 

 port the weight of the birds. Their custom was to dart 

 to the panicle of fruit, hover in front of it for a mo- 

 ment, snatch a berry, and return to their perch to eat 

 it. When several of the trogons were feeding upon 

 one small tree, it was a beautiful — a brilliant sight. 

 Prom the weakness and small size of their feet and 

 legs, this habit of feeding upon the wing would seem 

 an inevitable one — as in the case of kingfishers and 

 whip-poor-wills. 



When at rest, their backs were always turned toward 

 us, iridescent green in the male bird and uniform gray 

 in its mate. When they left their perch, they fell for- 

 ward, making a short drop straight downward, show- 

 ing all the beauty of yellow and white and green. As 

 suddenly, they then flashed upward, and none but dull 

 hues were visible. 



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