X 
INTRODUCTION. 
would be as reasonable (and as unnatural) to withdraw these birds from their respecthe 
families and form of them a new three-toed family, as to separate the Kingfishers from 
the Trogons for the reasons assigned. As an instance how totally unable the Trogons 
are to use their feet for any thing like climbing, we may mention that the Trogons 
of South America feed principally on fruit, which one would think they would get by 
climbing or walking after if they could. But no; they take their station on a bare branch 
about the middle of the tree, and having fixed their attention on some particular tempting 
fruit they dart at it, seize it dexterously on the wing, and return to their original seat. 
Often while waiting under a fruit-tree for Chatterers or Pigeons, have we received the 
first intimation of the presence of a Trogon by the ‘ whir-r-r ’ of its wings as it darted after 
a fruit. It is curious that this habit seems confined to the Trogons of America. In 
the East I have never yet observed it, and in the numerous specimens I have opened 
nothing has been found but insects. The African Trogons also appear to be wholly 
insectivorous.” 
Mr. Salvin has also kindly forwarded a note on the American Trogons, as they have 
come under his observation during his travels :—“In habits, Trogons are inactive whilst 
at rest, and they remain a considerable time almost motionless on the branch on which 
they are perched. The position of the body when thus resting is nearly vertical, and 
the tail hangs at but a slight angle from the vertical line. Their flight is short, rapid, and 
spasmodic; but they appear to seize most of their food, whether it be insect or fruit, 
when on the wing. Of the former, the larvae are mostly preferred, and I have not 
unfrequently found large caterpillars in the stomachs of those I shot. 
“ Trogons are usually found singly or in pairs; but I have, when m pursuit of Quezals, 
on rare occasions seen several individuals at one time. Then, perhaps excited by the cabs 
of the hunter, they evince unusual activity, and fly from tree to tree and branch to 
branch uttering a chattering note. Trogons always remain under the shade of the 
forest-trees. They are to be met with on boughs at some distance from the ground, 
but not in the tops of the trees.” 
