MEGALAIMID^. 317 



it had then made another entrance, also from below, about 2| feet 

 from the nest. I quite recently observed a nest of this bird in a 

 hole of a decayed branch of a tree, close to a house in a laro-e 

 thoroughfare in Calcutta. 



X. philippensis is a distinct and somewhat larger species, inha- 

 biting the Philippine islands ; and B. Raflesii, Boie (apud Bona- 

 parte), from Sumatra, is also very closely allied. 



198. Xantholaema Malabarica, Blyth. 



Bucco, apud Blyth, J. A. S., XVI., 386 and 465— Blyth, 

 Cat. App. p. 336— HoRSF, Cat. 937— B. barbiculus, apud 

 Bl<yth, olim, and Jkrdon, 2nd Suppl, Cat. 216 bis. 



The Crimson-throated Barbet. 



Descr. — Above darkish green, the feathers edged pale ; light 

 green beneath ; forehead, around the eyes, and chin and throat, 

 crimson ; the last margined externally with golden-yellow ; occiput 

 black, passing into dull blue, which is the color of the cheeks, ear- 

 coverts, and sides of neck. 



Bill black ; irides red-brown ; legs red. 



Length Q^ inches ; wing 2>^-q ; tail 1^ ; bill at front \ ; tarsus /^. 



This Barbet is only found in parts of the Malabar forests. I 

 have met with it rarely in the Wynaad, and at one or two localities 

 near the summit of the western ghauts in Mysore. I have had 

 it, also, from the Travancore hills, I heard its call, which is some- 

 what similar to that of X. indica, but rather lower and deeper in 

 its tone. X. rubricapilla, Gmelin, is a nearly allied species from 

 Ceylon. 



Many, and some very beautifully colored, species of Barbets are 

 found in the Malayan peninsula and the islands ; most of them 

 belonging to Bonaparte's genus Chotorhcea. Megalorhynchus Hayi 

 is a very remarkable plain-colored Barbet, with large bill, and the 

 bristles at the base almost wanting. It is found in Malacca ;, 

 and may be regarded as one of the various links comiecting the 

 Barbets with the Toucans, 



The African Barbets appear to have much the same habits, 

 and even call, of the Indian species. Many of them are black 



