TEOGONS. QUEZAL. 
51 
stinct to go in search of some locality where they can find 
a greater abundance of food. Mr. Swainson says^ that the 
trogons sometimes feed on fruits^ especially on the rich 
purple berries of the Melastomacece ; and what is singular^ 
he records that they invariably dart at them^ as if^ like in- 
sects_, they could get out of their way. The skin of the 
trogons is very thin^ and the feathers are very loosely at- 
tached. The most splendid of the species is the Quezal 
[Calurus resplendens, PI. III. fig. 2)^ a native of Guatemala^ 
the head of which is crested; several lance-shaped feathers^ 
proceeding from the shoulder, hang over the wing ; but, what 
particularly marks it, are several pairs of narrow, flowing 
plumes, which proceed from above the tail ; the longest of 
these are sometimes upwards of three feet long. These 
feathers, with the back and throat, are of a brilliant golden 
green, while the breast, belly, and under tail-coverts are of 
a rich crimson. This bird was much prized in ancient 
times by the Mexicans, who regarded its long feathers as 
among the most handsome of their ornaments. The bird 
itself was sometimes carved on their monuments. 
The trogons are found in the tropical parts of America, 
in some of the West Indian Islands, in the islands of the 
Eastern Seas, and in South Africa. 
