BANTAM—BARBET 27 
the epithet “Bald” is applied just as inaccurately in North America 
to an EAGLE, the Halivetus leucocephalus, and in England, though 
more appositely, to the Coor. 
BANTAM, a small breed of domestic poultry, so-called under 
the belief that it came from the part of Java which bears that name ; 
_ but apparently it originated in Japan (cf. Darwin, Anim. & Plants 
under Domest. chap. vii.) Birds of this breed were mentioned in 
1698 by Fryer (New Account of East India, p. 116) as ‘‘ Champore 
cocks,” coming from Siam. Remarkable for their diminutive size, 
they were characterized also by their feathered feet. In modern 
times Sebright established a sub-breed, known by his name, in which 
not only is this last feature wanting, but there is comparatively 
little external difference between the cocks and hens. 
BARBET, Pennant’s equivalent in 1773 (Gen. Birds, pp. 13, 14) 
of Brisson’s and subsequently Linnzeus’s genus Bucco (a word coined? 
in 1752 by Meehring, though applied 
by him to the ToucaAns); but Brisson 
called it in French Barbu, ‘from its 
bristles, a sort of beard” with which 
the beak is beset, as will be seen 
in the figure, and hence Pennant 
formed his word.?, The type of 
Brisson’s genus, on which that of 
Linneus was founded, was called 
by the latter in 1766, B. capensis—most unhappily in all respects, for 
the former had expressly given Cayenne as its habitat.? The birds 
originally included in the genus are now recognized as belonging to 
two distinct Families, commonly known as Bucconidx and Capitonide, 
and it is to the latter of these that the name “ Barbet” is restricted 
by modern ornithologists, the former being known as PUFF-BIRDS. 
The Capitonidx,* or “Scansorial” Barbets as some authors designate 
_ them, though their climbing power is disputed, form the subject of 
a beautifully illustrated Monograph by Messrs. C. H. T. and G. F. L. 
Pogonoruyncuus, (After Swainson.) 
1 From the Latin bucca; and, as explained by Pennant, referring to ‘the 
fulness of the cheeks.” 
? Barbet had long existed in French in the sense of a shaggy dog 
water-spaniel, 
% In this case of the use of the extraordinary and ungrammatical adjective 
which has unfortunately been so frequently adopted, one can hardly doubt 
that Linnzus meant to write, and very likely did write (in an abbreviated form, 
as was his habit), cayensis for cayennensis, which he afterwards misread, and 
unluckily clenched the mistake by adding, ‘‘ Hab. ad Cap. b. Spei.” 
4 Garrod (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1879, p. 935) and Forbes (op. cit. 1882, p..94) used this 
term to include the Tovcans and Honry-curpEs as well as the Barbets. Of 
course if these Families, Indicatoridx, Capitonide, and Rhamphastide, be united 
in one, the last is the name it should bear. 
a poodle or 
