130 BIRDS OF BRITISH BURMAH. 



512. MEGAL^EMA VIRENS. 

 THE GREAT CHINESE BARBET, 



Bucco virens, Bodd. Tall. PI. Enl. p. 53. Bucco grandis, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 408. 

 Megalaema virens, Sivinhoe, P. Z. S. 1871, p. 391 ; David et Oust. Ois. Chine, 

 p. 56 ; Hume fy Dav. S. F. vi. p, 150 ; Hume, S. F. viii. p. 88 ; Bingham, S. F. 

 ix. pp. 165, 473. 



Description. Male and female. Similar to M. marshallorum, but with 

 the head a duller blue and without the yellow collar on the hind neck. 

 Some few birds, however, exhibit yellowish shaft-stripes on this part, but 

 they are obscure and not visible without close scrutiny. 



Bill and gape wax-yellow, the former whitish at the top and horny at 

 tip ; irides dark brown ; legs and feet dirty sap-green ; claws horny. 

 (Bmgham.) 



Length 13'2 inches, tail 4*6, wing 5*8, tarsus 1'2, bill from gape 2*1. 



The Great Chinese Barbet differs very constantly from its Indian ally in 

 the characters pointed out above, and appears to be quite worthy of separa- 

 tion. Another species, which, however, I have not been able to examine, 

 is M. lagrandieri, J. Verreaux, from Cochin China. 



Mr. Davison met with this Barbet in the neighbourhood of Pahpoon in 

 Tenasserim, and Capt. Bingham states that it is quite common in the 

 Thoungyeen valley. Elsewhere it is known to occur only in China, in the 

 Fokien and Canton provinces. 



Mr. Davison remarks that this species frequents the higher forest trees, 

 and has the same wailing cry of " pio-pio-pio" as its Himalayan ally. Capt. 

 Bingham found the eggs in Tenasserim in February and March. The eggs 

 were either two or three, and the nest-holes were situated at twenty to 

 thirty feet from the ground. 



Genus CHOTOKEA, Bonap. 



513. CHOTOREA MYSTACOPHANUS. 

 THE GAUDY BARBET. 



Bucco mystacophanos, Temm. PI Col. 315. Megalaema mystacophanus, 

 Marsh. Mon. Capit. pi. xix. ; Wold, in Bl. B. Burin, p. 74 ; Tweedd. Ibis, 1877, 

 p. 299 ; Hume $ Dav. S. F. vi, p. 152 ; Ifume, S. F. viii. p. 88. 



Description. Male and female. Forehead and front of the head as far 



