TRO 
weigh no more than twenty grains. Its total 
length is an inch and a quarter. It is found 
in the West Indies and South America, pnd 
is exceeded both in weiglit and magnitude 
by several species of bees. 
For the amethystine humming-bird see 
Aves, Plate XIV. fig. 3. 
TROCHLEA, one of the mechanical pow- 
ers, usually called a pulley. See Mechanics. 
TROCHOID, in geometry, a curve more 
generally known by the name of cycloid. 
See Cycloid. 
TROCHUS, in natural history, a genus 
of the Vermes Testacea. Animal a Iknax ; 
shell univalve, spiralj more or less conic ; 
aperture somewhat angular or rounded, the 
upper side transverse and contracted, pil- 
Im placed obliquely. There are about 150 
species, divided into sections. A. Erect, 
with the pillar perforated. B. Imperfo- 
rate, erect, the umbilicus, or navel, closed, 
C. Tapering, with an exserted pillar, and 
falling on the side when placed on the base. 
Of these we may notice T. telescopium : 
shell imperforate, striate, with a spiral pil- 
lar. It inhabits the Indian ocean, and is 
about four inches long ; the shell is taper- 
ing, like a telescope when drawn out; brown 
liver colour, or blackish, the first whorl ge- 
nerally barred with white; pillar a little 
prominent, with a tooth or plait in the mid- 
dle ; whorls flatfish. 
TROGON, the curucui, in natural his- 
tory, a genus of birds of the order Picae. 
Generic character ; bill short, thick, and 
convex, serrated at the edges ; nostrils co- 
vered with stitf bristles ; toes, two before 
and two behind; tail of twelve feathers. 
Birds of this genus chiefly inhabit South 
America, live solitary in moist places, and 
in pathless overgrown woods ; make short 
flights, and subsist principally on insects. 
There are seven species. 
Ti curucui, the red-bellied curucui, is an 
inhabitant of Cayenne, and is about as large 
as a magpie. These birds are not grega- 
rious, and are never seen but atone, or in 
pairs. They lay their eggs in the holes of 
trees upon the rotten dust, preparing no 
nest. The male is mute, unless in spring, 
and then has a plaintive and monotonous 
note. The young, when first hatched^ are 
bare of featliers, and have a head very dis- 
proportionately large to the body; they 
are fed with insects and caterpillars till able 
to provide for themselves, and then left by 
their parents, who return to their seques- 
tered haunts, and in September are en- 
gaged with a second brood. When con- 
tro 
fined, tliey refuse all food, and, conse- 
quently, soon perish. 
TROLLIUS, in botany, globe flower, a 
genus of the Polyandria Polygynia class 
and order. Natural order of Multisilique. 
Ranunculaceae, Jussieu. Essential charac- 
ter : calyx none ; petals about fourteen ; 
capsules numerous, ovate, many-seeded. 
There are two species, viz. T. Europasus, 
European globe flower, and T. Asiaticus, 
Asiatic globe flower. 
TRONAGE, the mayor and common- 
alty of the city of London, are ordained 
keepers of the beams and weights for weigh- 
ing merchants’ commodities, with power 
to assign clerks, porters, &c. of the great 
beam and balance; which weighing of goods 
and wares is called tronage. 
TROPjEOLUM, in botany, Indian a'ess, 
a genus of the Octandria Monogyuia class 
and order. Natural order of Trihilatm. 
Gerania, Jussieu. Essential character : ca- 
lyx one-leafed, with a .spur; petals four, 
unequal ; nuts three, coriaceous. There 
are five species. 
TROPE, in rhetoric, a kind of figure of 
speech, whereby a word is removed from 
its first and natural signification, and appli- 
ed with advantage to another thing, which 
it does not originally mean ; but Only stands 
for it, as it has a relation to, or connection 
with it : as in this sentence, God is my rock. 
Here the trope lies in the word rock, which 
being firm and immoveable, excites in our 
minds the notion of God’s unfailing power, 
and the steady support which good men re- 
ceive from their dependence upon him. 
TROPHIS in botany, a genus of the 
Dioecia Tetrandria class and order. Natu- 
ral order of Calyciflor®. Essential charac- 
ter : male, calyx none ; corolla four-petalled : 
female, calyx none ; corolla none ; style 
two-parted ; berry-one seeded. There is 
but one species, viz. T. Americana, the 
ramoon tree, which is a native of Jamaica 
and other islands in the West Indies in dry 
exposed situations. 
TROPHY, among the ancients, a pile 
or heap of arms of a vanquished enemy, 
raised by the conqueror in the most emi- 
nent part of the field of battle. The tro- 
phies were usually dedicated to some of the 
gods, especially Jupiter. The name of the 
deity to whom they were inscribed, was 
generally mentioned, as was that also of the 
conqueror. The spoils were at first hung 
upon the trunk of a tree ; but instead of 
trees, succeeding ages erected pillars of 
stone, or brass, to continue the memory of 
