420 NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



ing their relationship to the toucans, while in Asia and Africa together there are nearly 

 six times as many species as in South America, the number of species known amount- 

 ing to some eighty. Miocene remains of barbets have not yet been identified, but 

 little doubt is entertained but that the explanation of the curious distribution of the 

 barbets is the same as that of the trogons (p. 371). 



The species figured in the accompanying cut is the crimson-breasted barbet (Me- 

 galaima licemaceplialct) from the Philippine Islands, but represented by closely allied 

 races all over the Indian region. It is green above, yellowish beneath, streaked with 

 green ; forehead and a pectoral gorget glistening crimson, the latter edged behind 

 with golden yellow ; throat and eye-region pale sulphur yellow; rest of head black, 

 except occiput, which, together with the sides of the neck, has a bluish tinge. This 

 form is representative of the central and most numerous group of the family. In 

 India it is known as the tambagut, or ' coppersmith,' a name originating in its cry, 

 which is a monotonous and deliberate tooJc, took, took, accompanied by a peculiar nod- 

 ding of the head at each call. M. rafflesli, from the Malay peninsula, is still more 

 gaudily colored, and deserves mentioning, being one of the commonest species in col- 

 lections from the tropical east. Mr. R. Swinhoe writes as follows of the habits of 

 M. faber, from the Island of Hainan : " From its loud, peculiar call, the Hainan 

 species has earned among the natives of the island the appellation of ' ironsmith,' 

 whence I have derived its specific name. It is a stupid, heavy species, keeping much 

 to the upper boughs of umbrageous trees, especially those of the fig group, of which 

 there are a good many kinds in Hainan. It sits still among the leaves, munching the 

 figs, and you may be under a tree a long time without knowing that a party of bar- 

 bets are overhead, except from the constant falling of berries. In flying, they hold 

 the head with the heavy bill well up, the body and tail inclining downward, while 

 the wings keep on a continued fluttering, and propel the bird in a straight direction." 



The pearl-spotted barbet ( Trachyphonus margaritatus) from northeastern Africa 

 represents another style of coloration, being umber brown with white spots above ; 

 sulphur yellow underneath ; upper and under tail-coverts, deep scarlet. The species 

 of this group are also characterized by longer tail and tarsus. Their habits have 

 been described by the celebrated traveler and ornithologist Theodor von Heuglin 

 as follows : 



" The note of the Trachyphoni is loud and very melodious ; they run (though in a 

 different manner from woodpeckers) up and down the trunks of trees, feeding upon 

 insects, berries, and fruits, as they hop from branch to branch. Their flight is short, 

 but rapid ; their course consisting of a series of numerous undulations. I never saw 

 any of the species of this group on the ground. I am not acquainted with the mode 

 of propagation of these birds, except that T. margaritatus builds in holes of trees, 

 and lays white eggs, usually from four to six in number." Another African form is 

 Pogonorhynchus dubius, the bearded barbet, with a large, deeply sulcated and den- 

 tated beak, guarded underneath by long and strong bristles, and with a large naked 

 space round the eyes. Its coloration is very peculiar, in some respects reminding one of 

 some species of toucans, being glossy black above, across the breast, and underneath 

 behind the legs. The throat and sides of neck, together with the middle part of the 

 abdomen, are glossy deep blood-red ; flanks, white. 



Nearly all the South American species belong to the genus Capita, and resemble 

 in their general aspect the true Megalaimas, but have the bristles at the base of the 

 bill much less developed. Peculiar are the two species forming the genus Tetragon- 



