74 THE BIRDS OF CALCUTTA. 



ful specimen of a lutino Coppersmith was, when this book 

 was written, in the Calcutta Zoo, and was interesting in that 

 the red on the plumage and legs persisted, although the bill 

 was fleshy white, and only a little of the green feathering 

 was to be seen, in the wings and tail mostly. Of course 

 even if these pallid birds could hold their own with the nor- 

 mally coloured ones, they would still be at a disadvantage in 

 the struggle for existence, since their colour would be no 

 protection ; but the red on the present bird showed that it 



Blue-cheeked Barbet. 

 (Cyaitops asiatica. 



had moulted at least once, and so managed to exist foi a 

 year at all events. The Coppersmith must, however, be a 

 singularly successful species, for it is not only very common 

 but has a wide range east of India to the Philippines. In 

 this respect it has the advantage of our other Calcutta 

 species, the Blue-cheeked Barbet above mentioned, a very 

 showy bird as large as a thrush, with sky-blue in place of 

 primrose-yellow on the cheeks and throat. This bird is 

 less common in Calcutta than the Coppersmith, and is 



