388 Mr. 11, Swinhoe on Funnosan Ornithulogy. 



the great M. virens, which is also an abundant bird in some 

 parts of India. In Formosa it is represented by this smaller 

 but more lovely species, the Hoe-hva-cheow, or Embroidered Bird, 

 of the Chinese colonists. This Barbet is a true forest-bird, fre- 

 quenting the higher mountains of the interior, where it may be 

 met with in great abundance, though generally scattered through 

 the wood singly or in pairs. It affects the highest branches of 

 large trees, sitting solitary and often motionless for hours to- 

 gether. Its note is loud and discordant, the bird often making 

 its presence known by its voice when one would otherwise pass 

 it by unnoticed from the resemblance of its plumage to the 

 general foliage. When seen flying from tree to tree, it looks 

 like a cross between an Oriole and a Parrot, if such a thing can 

 be imagined. It feeds on berries and occasionally on insects, 

 also, as I am told, on small birds. 



Bill light bluish grey at the base of upper and basal half of 

 lower mandible, the rest deep greyish black. Legs leaden grey, 

 with a greenish tinge ; sole-pads dingy brownish ; claws brown- 

 ish white, greyish black on their arches and sides. Irides red- 

 dish-brown. General plumage yellowish green. A spot on each 

 lore, a large one on the breast, and a somewhat obscure one on 

 the upper back carmine. Fore part of the crown greenish yellow, 

 golden near the bill, and blending towards the occiput into the 

 fine light-blue nuchal band that encircles the head including 

 the cheeks, but narrowing on the underneck above the red spot. 

 Throat above this band golden yellow. A band of black runs 

 over the eye and ear-coverts ; another starts from the nostrils, 

 passing the red loral spot, reaches under the eye to the ear- 

 coverts ; the feathers of this band are tipped under the eye with 

 blue, near the bill with greenish. Tail a fine green, with black 

 shafts. Quills black, broadly margined on their outer webs with 

 green, the primaries having further a yellowish edge ; some of 

 the tertiaries almost entirely green. Under parts pale leek-green, 

 brighter and yellower on the breast. Axillaries, inner edges of 

 most of the remiges, inner portion of tibise, and a part of the belly 

 pale yellow. — Length 7^^ in.; wing ^{\; tail 2/|), of ten 

 slightly graduated feathers ; under surface greenish blue, with 

 pale oehreous shafts. 1st quill short, 4th and 5th longest. 



