NATURAL HISTORY. 



be seen together in a fig-tree at the fruit season. They live in pairs during the breeding season, which 

 is in the spring, and commence moulting in September. They rarely, if ever, descend to the ground, 

 and appear to move from tree to tree only when compelled to do so in search of food, or when 

 disturbed by an intruder. Their flight is powerful, but heavy and undulating, like that of a Wood- 

 pecker. A curious instance of their disinclination to travel is seen in the fact of the Himalayan 

 Lineated Barbet (Megcdwma hodysoni) and the Hoary Jungle Barbet (M. caniceps) never crossing 

 the narrow valley of the Deyra Doon, though both are abundant in their respective boundaries; 

 also that the Blue-faced Barbet (M. asiatica) is confined to the valley of the Jumna, in the district 



between Mussooree and Simla, 

 though there are many other val- 

 leys apparently equally suitable. 

 When not in pursuit of food, the 

 Barbets sit motionless among the 

 foliage near the tops of the trees, 

 and exhibit none of that vivacity 

 which is so marked a charac- 

 teristic of the Passerine birds, 

 amongst which they have been 

 sometimes erroneously classed. 

 Their voice is loud and ringing, 

 consisting almost always of one, 

 two, or three syllables, given out 

 with extraordinary power, and 

 may be heard at midday or on a 

 moonlight night when all other 

 sounds are hushed. Some of the 

 American species have, in com- 

 mon with the Toucans, the habit 

 of jerking their tail up over their 

 back when they utter their call. 

 The male and female sometimes 

 keep up what appears to be a 

 ' calling-match ' for about ten 

 minutes, and then suddenly cease. 

 As far as is known, they all build 

 in holes of trees, which they make 

 for themselves in soft or decayed 

 branches. Ko lining is needed 

 for the nest, a few of the broken 

 chips being left at the bottom 



of a hole. The entrance is circular and neatly bevelled, resembling that of a Woodpecker. The 

 hole is generally about eight or ten inches deep, varying, of course, with the size of the bird. 

 They lay three or four shining white eggs, with rather thin shells, and rather elongated, blunt, 

 oval in shape, both ends being nearly similar. They are laid in the latter end of April and 

 beginning of May in. Northern India. Barbets are occasionally caged, but they are very seldom 

 brought to England, and do not bear confinement very well ; consequently, little is known 

 of them in this country, except to ornithologists. An interesting account of one of them 

 (MegalfKma zeylunica) in captivity, by Mr. Layard, will be found quoted below. Their plumage, 

 though very brilliant, is tasteless and too gaudy, and their shape is heavy and ugly, which will 

 account for their skins not yet having .been promoted to the positions with which pretty birds' 

 feathers are generally associated in the minds of the non-ornithological public." Mr. Layard's account 

 is as follows : " The Brown-headed Barbet is common in Ceylon, and universally distributed. It 

 feeds on fruits and berries of all kinds, which it swallows entire. It does not, that I know of, devour 



PEARL-SPOTTED BARBET. 



