CUCULIN^E, , 123 



middle of the belly, broad frontal space, and wide pectoral gorget, 

 glistening crimson ; throat and around the eye pale sulphur- 

 yellow ; below the crimson gorget is a narrow crescent of 

 golden-yellow ; a band across the crown, continued round to the 

 yellow throat, and a moustachial streak black ; a bluish tinge on 

 the occiput and sides of the neck, where the black passes 

 gradually into the green of the back, and also on the margins 

 of the scapulars and tail. 



The Crimson-breasted Barbet is very common throughout the 

 - Deccan, and in most parts of Rajpootana and Central India ; it 

 is not uncommon in Guzerat, but in Sind it only occurs as a 

 somewhat rare visitant. In all other places within our limits 

 it is a permanent resident, breeding from February to the end 

 of May ; its eggs, three in number, (there is no nest) are de- 

 posited in a hole pierced in a branch of a tree, generally one 

 that is decayed and hollow in the centre ; the eggs are dull- 

 white in color, elongated ovals in shape, and measure 0*99 inches 

 in length by 0'69 in breadth. 



During the breeding season its monotonous note (from which 

 it gets its name of coppersmith), toolc-took-took, which it utters 

 from the top of a tree, is heard incessantly from early mornin 

 till late at night. 



Xantholaema malabarica, Blyih. 



198. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. I, p. 317 ; Butler, Deccan ; 



Stray Feathers, Vol. IX, p. 387. 



THE CRIMSON-THROATED BARBET. 



Length, 6'25 ; wing, 3'2 ; tail, 1'5 ; bill at front, 0'5; tarsus, 07. 



Bill black ; irides red-brown ; legs red. 



Above darkish-green, the feathers edged pale, light green 

 beneath ; forehead, arouiidjthe eyes, and chin and throat. crimsrm, 

 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 the neck. 



The Crimson-throated Barbet has been recorded from Savant- 

 wadi and from the forests west of Belgaum, but it is rare, and 

 has not been found in any other portion of the region. 



FAMILY, Cuculidse. 



Bill of moderate size, usually slender, moderately curved and 

 compressed ; nostrils exposed ; gape wide ; toes long, unequal ; the 

 outer toe versatile, usually turned back ; tail long and broad, 

 with ten feathers, eight only in one group. 



SUB-FAMILY, Cuculinse. 



Bill slender, somewhat broad at the base, convex above, gently 

 curved at the culmen ; nostrils round, membranous ; wings 

 pointed ; tail rounded, nearly square, sub-furcate in one group ; 

 tibial feathers lengthened ; tarsus very short, partly feathered ; 



