THE BIRDS OF INDIA. I99 



laterally. In length it measures about 3 feet, of which the 

 tail takes up 14 inches. 



THE BARBETS. 



The following have been selected as representative of 

 the group. 



Famih' — CapitonidcF. 



Genus — Megalcema. M. asiatica. Blue-cheeked Barbet. 



M. virens. Great Barbet. 



M. hodgsoni. Hodgson's Barbet. 



Blue-Cheeked Barbet. — This bird is known to the 

 natives of the parts it frequents by the name of " bussant 

 bairi," or " old woman of the spring." It is an extremely 

 noisy creature, lives entirely on fruit, and usually has two 

 broods each season. 



Above, the colour is green, with a faint coppery gloss on 

 the back ; the under parts are paler, and have more of a 

 grassy tint ; the forehead, occiput, and a spot on each side 

 of the fore-neck crimson ; a black band crosses the crown 

 and forms an upper eye-mark ; the cheeks, ear coverts, 

 moustache, throat, and front of neck, including a narrow, 

 inferior eye-mark, are verditer blue ; the bill is greenish 

 yellow at the base, and black at the tip. The total length 

 of the bird is 9| inches, 3 of which are taken up by the 

 tail. It is found in Lower Bengal, where it breeds in holes 

 it excavates in trees. 



The Great Barbet is found in the Himalayas, and is 

 distinguished by its loud and plaintive notes. It measures 

 13 inches in total length, 3 of which belong to the tail. 



Hodgson's Barbet is another Himalayan species, green 

 above, paler on flanks and belly ; the vent and under tail 



