2 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
Fam. CAPITONIDA. 
154. PoGonorHyNCHUS TORQUATUS. Black-collared Barbet. 
Laimodon nigrithorax, Layard, B. 8. Afr. p. 233. 
This Barbet is a bird of the eastern districts. Mr. Rickard says 
it is rather plentiful near Hast London, and it is not uncommon 
about Graham’s Town, and Mr. T. C. Atmore collected an abundant 
supply of specimens near Eland’s Post, where it was found feeding 
on fruit and berries. “Mr. F. A. Barratt observes: ‘I have 
noticed these birds near Pretoria and in Kaffraria. I shot 
several near Rustenberg, where they abound, especially about 
the fruit-gardens.”” Mr. Ayres has procured them in Natal, and 
Captain Shelley writes: “ Very common about Pinetown, but I 
never met with them nearer the coast : they were generally in pairs, 
frequenting the scattered trees or the edges of woods.” Mr. T. Ey 
Buckley obtained one specimen close to the Limpopo, near Pretoria, 
where he considers it must be rather a rare bird. Dr. Kirk states 
that it iscommon in open forests of the Zambesi valley, frequently to 
be found on fig-trees. It occurs also higher up the coast at Mombas, 
while Speke procured it at Uzaramo. On the western side of the 
continent it has been found by Anchieta at Huilla and Biballa in 
Mossamedes, and again at Pungo Andongo in Angola. Mr. Barratt 
says it has a harsh, disagreeable note. ‘Their food,” writes Mr. 
Ayres, “ appears principally to consist of small fruits and berries, 
which they swallow whole. ‘Their note is particularly loud; the 
syllables kook koroo, repeated eight or ten times would give a good 
idea of it ; frequently both male and female call at the same time, 
and when perched close together keep up a quick succession of 
bows to each other, bowing at the repetition of each note.” 
The genus Pogonorhynchus, to which the present species and the 
next belong, is characterised, according to the Messrs. Marshall, our 
best authorities on the family, by its strongly toothed bill. The 
coloration of the species is its best distinguishing character, and its 
large size. The ouly other South African species which has any- 
thing like a red head and black pectoral collar is Trachyphonus cafer, 
which is at once distinguished by its long black crest, black back, 
yellow rump, and crimson upper-tail-coverts. 
Top of head and front, sides of head, chin, throat, and gorget, 
i 
