File:The history of birds - their varieties and oddities, comprising graphic descriptions of nearly all known species of birds, with fishes and insects, the world over, and illustrating their varied (14563740359).jpg

Identifier: historyofbirdsth00bing (find matches)
Title: The history of birds : their varieties and oddities, comprising graphic descriptions of nearly all known species of birds, with fishes and insects, the world over, and illustrating their varied habits, modes of life, and distinguishing peculiarities by means of delightful anecdotes and spirited engravings
Year: 1880 (1880s)
Authors: Bingley, William, 1774-1823
Subjects: Birds Zoology
Publisher: Philadelphia : Edgewood Publishing Co.
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
t Trogonis the most gorgeous of allthis gorgeous family. Itslong and gracefully curvedtail, nearly three feet long;the whole of the upper sur-face, and the throat, are aglowing green; the breastand under parts are brightcrimson; the middle feathersof the tail black, and theouter feathers white. Thissplendid bird is an inhabitantof Mexico, and was used bythe Mexican nobles as an ornament to their head-dress. From the feathers of these and other Trogons the mosaic picturesof the Mexicans were made. One of these, most delicately and beau-tifully executed, containing many figures, is now in the AshmoleanMuseum at Oxford, and is there said to be made of Humming-birdsfeathers. The subject is Christ fainting under the cross. Tiiewhole picture is about the size of the palm of the hand, and thefigures are baiely half an inch in height. This is a very difficult bird to stuff, on account of the delicatetexture of the skin, which is so fragile, that it tears almost as easilyas wet blotting paper.
Text Appearing After Image:
RESPLENDENT TROGO\S. THE HOOPOE, One of the most elegant birds that visit England is unfortunatelya very rare guest, and seldom if ever, breeds there. Its beautiful cresican be raised or depressed at pleasure, but is seldom displayed unlessthe bird is excited from some cause. Its food consists of insects, which 224 THE HOOrOE.

Note About Images