130 fiARDEX AXD AVIARY P.TRDS. 



home. Then it would be worth while to take a few, as 

 Coppersmiths are decided rarities in Eivi-iaiid. 



Thk Blue-throated T^arbet {C>/fnto/)s asia(ica), called 

 Jhnni l)uss>nif m lVMii;al. is a much larger l)ii(l than 

 the Coppers!nith, l)oin,u about the size of a House-Myiiah, 

 but more stoutly built : it has a longer bill and tail than 

 the small Bar bet. 



It is a very showy bird, beinj; bright ,i;reeu almost all 

 over, with a sky-blue face and throat and a scarlet cap 

 crossed by a black band ; at each side of the neck is also 

 a scarlet spot. The bill is pale yellow with a black streak 

 along the ridge. The younu birds are more like the old 

 ones than is the case with the Coppersmith, but their 

 head colouring is so dingy that their youth is perceptible 

 jit a glance. This Barbet is found on the lower slopes 

 of the Himalayas, aiul in Bengal, Assam, and Burma. 

 In Calcutta it is common, though less so than the Copper- 

 smith, and, like Barbets generally, much more heard 

 than seen. It has a rolling triple call, likf^ ." kxturxk '' 

 and is as noisy in its way as the Coppersmith though less 

 noticeable. 



It is the easiest Barbet to keep in confinement, as it 

 can Ix' tamed at any age ami will live on stifoo ; more- 

 over, several birds can be placed in the same cage with 

 im])imity. Accordingly, the Blue-faced Barbet is often 

 to be found in the dealers' canes in Calcutta, and a good 

 manv are sent to England, and tnin up nut nnfr(M|uently 

 at bird-shows. In a mi.xed aviaiy of the larger birds this 

 Barbet is always worth kee}»inu where it is not naturally 

 found and is generally nuich admired for its fine colours. 



