absence of the white pectoral erescent, a character common to so many members of its family ; I may 
remark, too, that were its habits and economy better known, we should doubtless find that its very powerful 
bill is fitted for some special purpose. 
The Troctes Massence is very common in Guatemala, Costa Rica, and probably in all the other countries 
southward to the Isthmus of Panama. Specimens from the latter country are smaller than those obtained in 
more northern localities. 
The following particulars respecting this species have been kindly furnished me by Mr. Osbert Salvin, a 
gentleman who is so intimately acquainted with the ornithology of Central America that all that flows from 
his pen must be considered of value :—“ Trogon Massence, though abundant in many parts of the vast forests 
which clothe the warmer portions of the eastern side of the great Central-American Isthmus from Mexico to 
Panama, does not appear to occur in similar tracts on the western or Pacific side of those countiies; nor is 
it, that I am aware of, to be found in the more broken and thinner forests of the central poition of the 
Isthmus. Though originally described as occurring in Mexico, it does not seem to be very abundant theie, 
as the only recent records of its capture in that country are given by Mr. Selater, who states that M. Boucaid 
obtained specimens at Playa Vicente, and that others passed through the hands of the MM. Verreaux (cf. 
P. Z. S. 1858, p. 96, & 1859, p. 387). In Guatemala, Massena’s Trogon is very abundant in the province of 
Vera Paz ; and during my excursions to the lowland forests in 1860, and again in 1862, when Mr. Godman 
and I were together, I had frequent opportunities of observing it. As I said before, it is a bird which inhabits 
the densest forest, never emerging into the sunlight or the brushwood of an old clearing. It usually flies 
amongst the lower branches of the forest trees, but still far from the ground. Its habits are quick and 
spasmodic while in motion, and the very reverse when perched and at rest. A bird is observed to fly past 
overhead; it alights on a bough, and in a moment assumes an attitude that would lead one to suppose 
it had not stirred for an hour. When thus perched, the glittering green of the upper plumage and breast 
is inconspicuous, but the brilliant red of the under parts is an object of mark against the dark foliage of the 
trees. Its cries are various, but harsh and discordant, none of them being so soft as the call-note of the 
Quezal. Its food consists principally of ripe fruits, which are plucked whilst the bird is on the wing. 
Occasionally a caterpillar is added to its repast. The first specimen I saw was in the mountains of Rashehe, 
at an elevation of about 2500 feet above the sea; but at Choctum, which is only half that elevation, it occurred 
in numbers ; not only did we obtain examples ourselves, but every collection made by natives was well stocked 
with them. Specimens were also procured for us near Teleman, a village situated just where the river 
Polochic becomes navigable for canoes. Mr. Leyland found Trogon MLassence at Omoa and San Pedro, and 
in the notes referring to his collection (P. Z. S. 1859, p. 53) he states that ‘these birds are met with in 
pairs; they are very active, making a chattering noise, varied occasionally by a great outcry.’ In Costa 
Rica it appears to be equally abundant; M. Carmiol has recently forwarded us specimens from a place 
called Valza; and the collection of the Smithsonian Institution, at Washington, contains a plentiful supply 
from the same sources. A little further southwards, Enrique Arce found it in Veragua, and has sent us skins 
from the Cordillera of Tole and Santiago de Veraguas, whilst from the Panama railway line we have had 
forwarded to us numerous examples, by that indefatigable naturalist Mr. James M’Leannan, the ‘ track- 
master ’ of Lion Hill Station ; the forest surrounding his house seems to be full of these birds. The most 
southern recorded locality for the occurrence of Trogon Massence is the river Truando and the delta of the 
Atrato, where examples were obtained by the Messrs. Wood, who accompanied the surveying expedition 
under Lieut. Michler, as recorded by Mr. Cassin in the Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of 
Philadelphia, 1860, p. 135.” 
The Plate represents the two sexes, of the size of life. 
