BARBETS. 57I 



Tooth-billed These birds (Pogonorhynchus) are distinguished by the presence 



Barbets. o f one or mO re distinct notches or teeth in the edge of the bill, and 



in some of the species there are deep grooves or ridges, similar to those which 



occur in some of the hornbills ; while there is a sort of beard of coarse bristles on 



the chin in the red barbet of West Africa (P. dubius). 



The genus Melanobucco, also one of the group of tooth-billed barbets, has 

 thirteen species distributed over various districts of Africa. They are described 

 as frequenting the neighbourhood of woods and bush-country, feeding on fruits 



CRIMSON-BREASTED BARBET ( iiat. size). After Keulemans. 



and berries, seeds and insects, and nesting in holes of trees, but not making the 

 holes themselves. The black -collared barbet (M. torquatus) is said by Mr. Ayres 

 to have a particularly loud note, of which the syllables kook karoo, repeated eight 

 or ten times, would give a good idea. 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. Of the pied barbet (M. leucomelas), 

 Mr. Andersson says that in Damaraland it is found singly or in pairs, and is re- 

 markable for its clear-ringing and far-sounding notes, which, heard at all hours of 

 the day, are most frequent in the early morning. Its food consists chiefly of fruit 



