TOO GOB" BAKIKA* (SW).
Narina Trogon.
S p e c if ic C h a r a c t e r .
Mas Trotf. mfr^tMtt-viridis, ventre sanguineo; alts britnneis, secundariis fegminibwque cinereo
aiiwfa naherulentis. harum pogoniis extemis metallice viridi tinctis; rectricibus duabus
intcrmcdki* Sitiuratil purjtureo-viridibus, duabus proximis utrinque olivaceo-viridibus, reliquis
saturnti virtdibm ad apices late albis.
Rostrum camlet» tiiicttim; pedes pallida bruunescenti-flavi.
Form awsri simd&mt. differt orhitix guiture. pcctweqm rufo-hruntm*> hue pallidiore roseoque
'wmtre ttctrtfftbasaue t.tmkia. m ftt ioribm saturate resets.
IlSI ffrtN'P wiife a tmg** id Mtm# td the bead, throat, chest, shoulders, back, and
fi jMilit gp?t«»; breast and under surface bright blood r e d t h e
•ivi&&& the fgjptafrm'- and secondaries powdered with greyish white, the outer
e&rt, td h leather hsm^g a tinge of metallic green : two centre feathers of the tail dark
purphsfj t*i« "is, two next on each side olive green, the three outer on each side dark green
at their base, largely tipped with white; feel 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 p in k ;
lower part of the abdomen and under tail-coverts deep rose red.
Total length, l l i inch**/«; bill, l i ; wing, 5 i ; tail, 6t ; tarsi, f.
Trogw: V**i-'fnr I i ¿fil,. Hist. Nat. des Ois. d’Afrique, pi. 228 et 229-
>di ¿otl Edit. Nouv. Diet. d’Hist. Nat., tom. 8. p. 318. *
Whies. ov. regions of Asia and America ar<* inhabited by numerous species of this group, the whole
contmci”! V.'v. has not, up to the present time, presented us with more than a single one, the Frog on
Narina, -%■% believe, was first dttcevered by V’aillant, whose description in his elaborate work on
the birds sd jtffcwtfe us much information respecting its habits and economy.
M V :-.p: v;.; «tafcoi that the favourite haunts of the Trogon Narina are the densest parts of the forest,
w-isere >•! m & 1--‘V dead branch nearly motionless during the middle part of the day, it being only in the
s i y i v ..»tjl- ifiat it displays its activity in the capture of its food, which consists chiefly of locusts,
bettfe*- <***> other insects, to which are added the larger kinds of caterpillars. Its flight is said to be
short j from its favourite perch with unerring aim at each passing insect, aud either returning
s© ■** P<mxi0 - or perching near the spot. This mode of life has procured for the Trogon
Narina the •v.aratiter (¡% melancholy and stupid bird.'
It frequents tbs Urge ‘mdda called Autemiquoi, and those on the banks of the river Gamtoos in the Caffre
country. The nest is in the holes of trees ; the eggs are four in number, almost round, and of a rosy
white : the female sits fat ■ -v days; and the moment the young are excluded they take flight and follow
their parents for a consideraftk period. During the pairing-season the male frequently utters a melancholy-
sounding cry, but at other tHW be is silent.