S p e c i f ic C h a r a c t e r .
Trog. cristatus; tectricibus caudce superioribus longissimis tripedalibus; supra et ad guttur
pectusque splendid& aureo-viridis; ventre crissoque coccineis; rectricibus sex intermediis
nigris, reliquis albis ad basin tantummodo nigris.
Foem. vel Junior. Capite, gutture, pectoreque obscuril viridibus; dorso viridi; ventre cinera-
scenti-brunneo ; crisso coccineo ; capite suhcristato; tectricibus caudce superioribus brevibus;
rectricibus externis albis nigro fasciatis.
Rostrum flavum, in junioribus? nigrum; tarsi brunnei.
Beak gamboge yellow; bead covered with long filamentous plumes forming a rounded crest;
from the shoulders spring a number of lance-shaped feathers, which hang gracefully over
the wings; from the rump are thrown off several pairs of narrow flowing plumes, the
longest of which in fine adults measure from three feet to three feet four inches; the
others gradually diminishing in length towards the rump, where they again assume the
form of the feathers of the back; these plumes, together with the whole of the upper
surface, throat, and chest, are of a most resplendent golden green; the breast, belly, and
vent are of a rich crimson scarlet; the middle feathers of the tail black; the six outer ones
white for nearly their whole length, their bases being black; feet brown.
Total length, from the bill to the end of the tail, 12 to 14 inches; wing, 8 to 9 ; tail, 8 to 9;
tarsi, 1; length of longest plume about 3 feet.
The female or young of the year have only rudiments of the long plumes, seldom reaching
more than an inch beyond the tip of the ta il; the feathers of the crest are more rounded
and not filamentous; the feathers of the shoulders but slightly lanceolate; the outer tail-
feathers white barred with black, the centre ones black; the whole of the chest, throat,
and head obscure green, the remainder of the upper surface bright green; the breast and
belly greyish brown; vent fine scarlet; bill black.
[ Trogon resplendens. Gould, Proceedings of Zool. Soc., Part III.
pavoninus. Temm., PI. Col. 372.
I t is scarcely possible for the imagination to conceive anything more rich and gorgeous than the golden-green
colour which adorns the principal part of the plumage of this splendid bird ; or more elegant and graceful
than the flowing plumes which sweep pendent from the lower part of the back, forming a long train of metallic
brilliancy. Nature appears to have ordained that birds possessing unusual brilliancy of plumage should be
inhabitants of retired and obscure situations; and in strict conformity with this law the Resplendent Trogon,
by far the most beautiful of its tribe, is only to be found in the dense and gloomy forests of the southern states
of Mexico, remote from the haunts of civilized man ; which may, perhaps, account for its being so little
known to Europeans until within the last few years, for although the long plumes were used to adorn the
head-dresses of the ancient Mexicans, and at a later period were transmitted by the Spaniards from time to
time to Europe, yet it is only very recently that we have become acquainted with the entire bird. I believe the
first perfect example was received by the late Right Hon. George Canning : after that statesman s decease it
passed into the hands of Mr. Leadbeater. The representation of this bird in the “ Planches Coloriées” of
M. Temminck is undoubtedly the first that was published ; but the author has evidently confounded it with a
nearly allied species discovered in Brazil, and figured in the “Avium Species Novae,” &c., of Dr. Spix.
. I feel assured that all those who have noticed it under the name of pavoninus will, upon comparing it with
the original bird described by Dr. Spix, fully agree with me in considering it as specifically distinct. I am
induced to believe that the plumes of the species so named never extend more than a few inches beyond the
tail, that it is devoid of crest, that the whole of the tail-feathers are black, and that its size is much inferior
to that of Trog. resplendens.
Although the extreme brilliancy of the colours of this bird renders it impossible to give more than a faint
idea of the beauty of the original, yet I trust that the accompanying Plate will not be devoid of interest, since
it contains a figure of either the female or young male which has not before been delineated. Scarce as this
bird has hitherto been, there are now few collections of any extent which do not contain examples.
Habitat Guatimala in Mexico, where it is called Quesal.
The Plate represents an adult male and a female or young male of the natural size.