MEttALyEMA. 319 



are figured as pure white, and as measuriug 1-35 by 0*98 inch ; it 

 is added tliat this species breeds only once a year. 



lie further notes as follows: — "May 20th, in a deep ravine 

 desi-eudiiig from the heights of the Shahpooree forests, I obtained a 

 female and nest in the decayed trunk of a large tree, or rather 1 

 found the hollow which served as nest-hole. This is similar to 

 tliat of the smaller green species (M. hodgsoni), and the eggs are 

 white like those of that species, but larger." 



Mr. R. Thompson writes : — " This Barbet usually rears from 

 three to four young ones. Fruit is its only food, so far as I know. 

 It is easily tamed, and, when caged, often utters its loud and 

 plaintive cry. The hillmen have a story, that a person who suf- 

 fered unjustly from law-suits and who died from grief in conse- 

 quence was transformed into this bird, of which the cry is iia-nee, 

 oiu ; un-nee, oiv ; meaning injustice, injustice ! " 



Writing from Murree, Colonel C. H. T. Marshall remarks that 

 this species "lays in the latter end of June and beginning of July; 

 the eggs are four in number, pure white, and 1-4 by 1 inch. Most 

 of the nests were in newly-made holes in horse-chestnut trees, 

 some 20 or 30 feet from the ground. Elevation averaging 6000 

 feet." 



Colonel G. F. L. Marshall remarks : — " This species is a late 

 breeder at Naini Tal, not laying, so far as I know, till the end of 

 June. On the 23rd June I found a nest at about 7000 feet 

 elevation ; it was in an oak-tree at the side of an unfrequented, 

 road, about 20 feet from the ground. The old bird was very wary, 

 leaving the nest noiselessly whenever I approached within twenty 

 yards, and never returning as long as I remained anywhere near 

 the tree. 



" The tree was rotten inside, and about 34 feet in girth ; the 

 bole was pierced through the green wood into the hollow iji the 

 Aertical trunk, and contained three fresh eggs ; it was about a foot 

 deep vertically." 



The eggs vary a good deal in shape ; typically they are somewhat 

 lengthened ovals, I'egular and somewhat obtuse at both ends, but 

 much elongated, comparatively broad, and somewhat pyriform 

 varieties occur. They are a dull pure white, with little gloss, as 

 com])ared with those of "Woodpeckers. 



They vary in length from 1'25 to 1*48 inch, and from 0'89 to 

 1*05 inch ; but the average of eleven eggs measured is 1*37 by 0-98 

 inch. 



Megalsema virens (Bodd.). The Great Chinese Burhct. 

 Megaltema virens {Bodd.), Hume, Cat. no. 191 bis. 



Major C. T. Bingham found the nest of this species in 

 Tenasserim. He says : — " On the 12th February, on the bank of 

 the Mekhnay choung in the Thoungyeen Valley, J found my first 

 nest of this bird. It was in a hole of a jungle tree, name unknown, 



