406 THE HAIRY-BREASTED BARBET. 



close resemblance to the diurnal predaceous birds. Indeed, from examining the Parrots 

 and their habits, it is impossible not to perceive the analogy that exists between themselves 

 and the birds of prey, many of which are far less formidably armed than the vegetable- 

 feeding Parrots. Perhaps we may call the Parrots vegetarian raptores. 



The rather long generic name of Dasyptilus which has been given to this bird is of Greek 

 origin, signifying "Hairy-plumage," and is appropriated to the bird on account of the bristle- 

 like feathers, which cover the head and neck, and the generally bristly character of the 

 plumage. The beak is long, straight for a considerable portion of its length, and then curved 

 suddenly downwards at the tip, just after the manner of the eagles. Indeed, if the head were 

 removed from the body, nine persons out of ten would attribute it to one of the eagles. The 

 lower mandible is, however, more like that of the Parrots, short, thick, and keeled. Around 

 the eye there is a large patch of bare skin, and the bristly feathers of the head and neck very 

 scantily protect those portions. The nostrils are round, and situated in the "cere" at the 

 base of the beak. 



The coloring of this bird is very simple. The general tint of the whole upper surface 

 is black-green, like that of the Aratoo, excepting the greater wing-coverts, and the upper tail- 

 coverts, which are of a rich crimson. The abdomen and thighs are also crimson, but with a 

 perceptible vermilion tint. The upper part of the breast and the neck are black, and a very 

 slight white edging appears on some of the feathers. The tail is moderately long, rounded, 

 and veyy firmly made. The total length of this bird is about twenty inches. 



THE WOODPECKERS. 



WE now take our leave of the Parrots, and come to a very interesting family of scansorial 

 birds, known popularly as Woodpeckers, and scientifically as Picidge. 



There are many members of this large family, differing exceedingly in size, color, and 

 form, but yet possessing a kind of family resemblance not easy to be described, but readily 

 recognizable. For convenience of description modern zoologists have grouped the Wood- 

 peckers into several sub-families, all of which will be represented in the following pages, and 

 which are termed the Capitoninae or Barbets, the Picumninse or Piculets, the Picina? or true 

 Woodpeckers, the Gecinge or Green Woodpeckers, the Melanerpinse or Black Woodpeckers, 

 and the Colaptinse or Ground Woodpeckers. 



OUR example of the first sub-family is the HAIR-BREASTED BARBET. 



This is, perhaps, the most curious of all the Barbets, on account of the peculiarity from 

 which it derives its name. The feathers of the breast are much stiffer than the others, and 

 more sharply pointed, and the shafts of the lower breast-feathers are devoid of web, and pro- 

 ject to the distance of nearly an inch from the rest of the plumage, looking as if a number 

 of long curved bristles had been inserted among the plumage. All the Barbets possess strong 

 and conical beaks, surrounded with bristles at the base, and their stiff tail-feathers enable 

 them to support their bodies while they are perched upon the upright trunk of the tree 

 on which they are seeking their insect food. They are all found in tropical climates, and the 

 greater number, among which the present species may be included, are natives of Western 

 Africa. In their habits they are said to be rather slow and sluggish birds, not possessed of the 

 fiery vivacity which distinguishes the true Woodpeckers, and their food is not so wholly of an 

 insect nature. The wings and tail are short, and all the species are of small dimensions. 



The general color of this bird is brown on the upper parts of the body, spotted with 

 sulphur-yellow, a round mark of that tint being found on the end of each feather. The head, 

 chin, and part of the throat are black, and there is one white stripe behind the eye, and 



