TROGON 
PAVONINUS, 
Pavonine Trog-on 
Specific Character. 
Mas 
Trog. corpore supra, capite, gutture, pectore, scapular ihusque splendenti-viridibus 
alls 
caudaque nigris 
cequantihus ; ventre 
viridi-splendentihus. 
um intermediis duabus caudam longitudine sub- 
nferioribus coccineis ; jfemoribus tarsisque nigris 
Foem 
ad basin miniaceum ad apicem flavum; pedes ochracei 
Capite, gutture, pectoreque saturate cinereo-brunneis viridi 
dee inf irioribus coccineis ; scapularibus dorsoque viridibus 
• « 
flavescentibus, rectricibus duabus 
nigris, remigum pogoniis externis 
obscure fasciatis. 
ides bninnescenti-miniaceae ; rostri mandibula superior saturate brunnea, inferior ad basin 
sordide miniacea apicem versus in brunneum transiens. 
Male 
Head, throat, chest, shoulder of the wing and whole of the upper surface rich glossy 
green ; upper tail-coverts green, the two centre feathers reaching the end of the tail but 
rarely exceeding it; wings and tail black; breast and under tail-coverts rich scarlet; fea- 
thers of the thighs and tarsi black with green reflections; irides dark carmine: feet ochre 
Female 
bill carmine at the base and yellow at the tip 
Head, throat, and chest dark greyish brown tinged with green ; upper 
of the 
abdomen dark greyish brown, the lower part and the under tail-coverts deep 
feathers of the thighs and tarsi black with green reflections ; 
shoulders and whole of the 
upper surface including the upper tail-coverts, which nearly reach to the end of the tail, 
rich green; wings brownish black with the outer edges of the feathers bafiT; tail-feathers 
black, the two outer on each side obscurely rayed with greyish white; upper mandible dark 
brown, under mandible dusky 
becoming brown at the 
irides brownish 
carmine. 
Total length, 13i inches; bill, H; wing, Ji; tail, 7; tarsi. 
3 . 
4 
Trogon pavoninus. Spix, Av. Sp. Nov. vol. 1. pi. xxxv. p. 47 
The Trogon pavoninus was first described by Dr. Spix in his work on the birds of Brazil. His account of 
it, however, is so meagre as to afford us but little insight into its history ; and twelve years have now elapsed 
sinee the publication of his work without any additional information having been made known. Through the 
kindness of M. Jean Natterer of Vienna, I am enabled to illustrate both sexes of this species, from very fine 
specimens which he has confided to my care for that purpose. During his sixteen years’ sojourn in the 
Brazils, M. Natterer had frequent opportunities of observing this bird in a state of nature ; and he informs me 
that it inhabits the high woods bordering the upper parts of the river Amazon and the Rio Negro, where it 
is only seen among the highest branches of the trees. 
Upon examining the contents of the stomach M. Natterer has almost invariably found it to consist of the 
fruit of a certain species of palm ; he therefore eoneludes that this, together with various berries and stoned 
fruits, forms its subsistenee. It arrives in the localities above mentioned when its favourite fruit is ripe ; and 
when the trees no longer yield an adequate supply it retires again to other districts. In the nature of its food 
this bird differs from most of the other species, which are well known to subsist principally on insects ; and 
its difference in this respect is accompanied by an equal diversity of form, the wings being more lengthv, 
the tail less abruptly truncated, the bill destitute of serratures, and the claws strong, curved, and admirably 
adapted for clinging. 
In my description of the magnificent species from Guatimala which I have designated resplendens, I have 
pointed out the characters by which that bird may at all times be distinguished from the one now represented ; 
it will therefore be unnecessary to repeat them here. 
Although the females of this bird and of Trogon resplendens offer a considerable difference in their plumage 
from each other, yet they assimilate more nearly than do the females of most other speeies ; for they both 
possess the rich glossy green plumage, and the upper tail-coverts are alike, but in the present bird they are not 
so elongated as in Trog. resplendens. The young males during the first year resemble the female. 
