Cassell's book of birds; vol. 3Brehm, Alfred Edmund
Science
Cassell's book of birds; vol. 3
Brehm, Alfred Edmund
Birds
The Malabar Trogon, as we learn from Jerdon, "is found in the forests of
Malabar, from the extreme south to about seventeen degrees north latitude,
reaching up the Ghâts and hill ranges at least 3,000 feet. It is also
found in some of the forests of Central India and in Ceylon. It, however,
usually prefers the more elevated situations, at about 2,000 feet or so,
and keeps generally to the thickest parts of the wood. It is often to be
seen seated motionless on a tree, occasionally flying off to capture an
insect on the wing, sometimes returning to the same perch, but oftener
taking up a fresh position, and in this way wandering about a good deal.
It is usually solitary, sometimes in pairs, and I have seen four or five
together. Its food consists of insects, chiefly coleopterous. I am not
aware of having heard its note, and certainly have found it generally a
silent bird. Trikell, however, says it has a wild, querulous note, like
the mewing of a cat. Its Hindustani name is given from its sitting with
the head sunk into its shoulders, as if it had no head, or as if dressed
in a faquir's _kufui_."
* * * * *
The FLOWER TOURACOS (_Hapaloderma_) are distinguished from the above birds
by the incised margins of their beaks, and the slenderness of the short,
exterior tail-feathers.
THE NARINA.
The NARINA (_Hapaloderma narina_), the only species of this group with
which we are at present acquainted, is of a magnificent golden green on
the entire mantle, centre tail-feathers, and throat; the lower breast and
belly are deep rose-red, the large wing-covers grey, striped with black,
the quills black, with white shafts, and the small wing-covers beautiful
golden green; the exterior tail-feathers are white on the outer and
blackish on the inner web. In the plumage of the female all these shades
are duller than in that of her mate; her brow and throat are brownish red,
and her tail-feathers brownish black.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account