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TROGON A U R A N T IU S , Spix.
Orange-breasted Trogon.
Mas. Trog. vertice, pectoreque violaceo-cteruleis nitore viridi, gutture nigrescenti; dorso et
uropygio intense viridibus, hoc ccerulescenti; alis nigns, in medio lineis delicatis cinereis
undatim striatis ; primariis albo extits marginatis lateribus cinereis ; abdomine medio crisso-
que splendide aumntiacis ; rectricibus caudce duabus intermediis intense viridibus; utrisque
duabus proximis nigrescentifuscis extus viridi lavatis, his atque illis ad apicem albis ; rectricibus
tribus extemis nigrescentirfuscis per dimidium basale, dimidio apicali albo; rostro
livide corneo ; pedibus plumbeis.
Fcem. Capite; corpore supra, gutture,pectore, lateribusque nigrescenti-cinereis; cauda nigrescenti-
cinered, rectricibus intermediis ad apicem nigermmis, tribus extemis albo extits marginatis,
apicibusque albis; aid media albo striatd; abdomine medio, crissoque aurantiacis; rostro
obscure corneo, ad apicem pallidiore ; pedibus plumbeis.
Male. Crown of the head and chest violet blue, with green reflections, passing into brownish
black on the th ro a t; back and rump rich dark green inclining to blue on the latter; wings
black, with the centre very finely striated with greyish white, and the primaries margined
on the outer edges with white ; flanks grey ; centre of the abdomen and under tail-coverts
rich orange yellow ; two centre tail-feathers rich green ; the two next on each side blackish
brown, tinged with green on their outer webs, and all six tipped with black; the three
lateral feathers on each side blackish brown at the base, and pure white for the remainder
of their length; bill blueish horn-colour ; feet lead colour.
Female. Head, all the upper surface, throat, chest, flanks and tail dark blackish grey, the
middle feathers of the latter tipped with je t black, and the three ijateral ones on each side
margined on their external webs, and tipped with white ; centre of the wing striated with
white; centre of the abdomen and under tail-coverts orange yellow; bill dark horn colour,
becoming lighter at the p o in t; feet lead colour.
Total lengfh, 101 inches; bill, 1; wing, 5 ; tail, 6 ; tarsi, i.
Trogon aurantius, Spix, Av. Sp. Nov., tom. i. p. 47- tab. xxxvi.
I h a v e but little hesitation in referring the present beautiful species to the Trogon aurantius of Spix, and
this opinion coincides with that of my friend Mr. John Natterer, who when in London examined my specimens,
and informed me that it was not uncommon in the woods near Rio de Janeiro : I have myself received
it from various parts of the Brazils, which country would appear to constitute its natural habitat. Much
difference exists in the colour of the upper surface of different specimens, particularly in the head and throat;
some having those, parts of a rich violet purple, while others have the same parts of a rich metallic green;
hut as I find no difference in their relative admeasurements, I am led to regard them as merely varieties of the
same species. The plumage of the young male resembles that of the female, but the central tail-feathers are
at all times glossed with green on the upper surface: they are however apt to puzzle the ornithologist unless
he has made himself acquainted with the peculiar changes of the tribe, from the circumstance of the feathers
of the body frequently undergoing a change before those of the wings and tail. I have a specimen in my collection,
in which an almost perfect change has taken place in the plumage of the body, its tint being nearly
as rich as that of the adult: this specimen is also rendered more remarkable by the centre of the wing having
assumed the fine and minute markings of maturity, while the tail resembles that of the female, in which the
white only occupies the outer webs and extreme tips of three lateral feathers.
Habitat. Brazils.
The Plate represents a male and female of the natural size.