' TROGON NARINA, Levaill.

Narina Trogon.

Sprctric CHARACTER.

Mas. Trog. splendenti-virids, ventre sanguineo ; alis brunnets, secundariis tegminibusque ct-
nereo-albido pulverulentis, harum pogonis externis metallicé viridi tinctis ; rectricthus duabus
intermediis saturate purpureo-viridibus, duabus proximis utrinque olivaceo-viridibus, reliquis
saturate viridibus ad apices laté albis.

Rostrum flavum ceeruleo tinctum ; pedes pallidé brunnescenti-flavi.

Fom. mart simillima, differt orbitis gutture, pectoreque rufo-brunneis, hac pallidiore roseoque

partum tincta, ventre tectricibusque caude. inferroribus saturate rosets.

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. he 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, 114 inches ; bell, 13; wong, 5: ; tail, 63; tarsz, +.
Trogon Narina. Le Vaill., Hist. Nat. des Ois. d’ Afrique, pl. 228 et 229.

Vieill., 2nd Edit. Nouv. Dict. d Hist. Nat., tom. 8. p. 318.

 

 

Wuue 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 Zrogon
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.