TROGON NARINA, Levaill 
Narina Trog-on. 
Specific Character. 
Mas. Trog. splendenti-viridis, ventre scmguineo; alis brunneis, secundariis tegminibusque ci- 
nereo-albido pulverulentis, harum pogoniis externis metallice viridi tinctis; rectricibus dnabus 
intermediis saturate purpureo-viridibus , duabus proximis utrinque olivaceo-viridibus, rehquis 
saturate viridibus ad apices late albis. 
Rostrum flaviim coeruleo tinctum; pedes pallide brmmescenti-flavi. 
Foem. man, simillima, differt orbitis gutture, pectoreque rufo-brunneis, hac pallidiore roseoque 
pariim tinctd, ventre tectricibusque caudce inferioribus saturate roseis. 
Male. Bill yellow with a tinge of blue ; whole of the head, throat, chest, shoulders, back, and 
upper tail-coverts resplendent green; breast and under surface bright blood red; the 
wings brown, the greater coverts and secondaries powdered with greyish white, the outer 
edge of each feather having a tinge of metallic green ; two centre feathers of the tail dark 
purplish green, two next on each side olive green, the three outer on each side dark green 
at their base, largely tipped with white ; feet light brownish yellow. 
Female. The upper surface and tail closely resemble those of the male; round the eye and 
throat rufous brown, becoming paler on the chest, which is slightly tinted with rosy pink ; 
lower part of the abdomen and under tail-coverts deep rose red. 
Total length, Ilf inches ; bill. It; wing, 5-\- ; tail, 6? ; tarsi, f. 
Trogon Narina. Le Vaill., Hist. Nat. des Ois. d’Africpie, pL 228 et 229- 
-——— Vieill., 2nd Edit. Nouv. Diet. cl’Hist. Nat., tom. 8. p. 318. 
While the tropical regions of Asia and America are inhabited by numerous species of this group, the whole 
continent of Africa has not, up to the present time, presented us with more than a single one, the Trogon 
Narina, which, we believe, was first discovered by Le Vaillant, whose description in his elaborate work on 
the birds of Africa affords us much information respecting its habits and economy. 
M. Le Vaillant states that the favourite haunts of the Trogon Narina are the densest parts of the forest, 
where it sits on a low dead branch nearly motionless during the middle part of the day, it being only in the 
morning and evening that it displays its activity in the capture of its food, which consists chiefly of locusts, 
beetles, and other winged insects, to which are added the larger kinds of caterpillars. Its flight is said to be 
short and rapid ; darting from its favourite perch with unerring aim at each passing insect, and either re¬ 
turning to its former station or perching near the spot. This mode of life has procured for the Trogon 
Narina the character of a sad, melancholy and stupid bird. 
It frequents the large woods called Autemiquoi, and those on the banks of the river Gamtoos in the Caffre 
country. The nest is placed in the holes of trees ; the eggs are four in number, almost round, and of a rosy 
white : the female sits for twenty days ; and the moment the young are excluded they take flight and follow 
their parents for a considerable period. During the pairing-season the male frequently utters a melancholy¬ 
sounding cry, but at other times he is silent. 
