THK BARBETS. 127 



in India, but though they might well be placed in 

 the same "order," they may fairly claim a family 

 difference. The figure (Fig. 1) in Plate I of the Copper- 

 smith will give a good idea of their general form, although 

 most have a rather longer bill and tail than that bird. 

 The beak has a straggly moustache of bristles at the 

 root, and is much stouter than a Woodpecker's ; it is not 

 used for pecking into wood, except when the birds are 

 boring a nest-hole. The tongue is of ordinary shape, 

 and the tail is not stiff, but of ordinary feathers. The 

 feet have two toes before and two behind, but the 

 birds do not climb like Woodpeckers, but simply hop from 

 branch to branch, picking the fruit on which they feed 

 for their diet is almost altogether vegetarian. They hop 

 like Woodpeckers when on the ground, though I never 

 saw a Barbet there in the wild state ; their flight also much 

 resembles that of a Woodpecker, and they lay white e<m s 

 in a hewn-out nest-hole also. Moreover, the young show 

 the same warty pad on the hocks as young Wood- 

 peckers, and move in the same way. They are often less 

 like the old ones when fledged than young Woodpeckers 

 are, but are quite recognizable. Barbets run to very 

 brilliant and barbaric colouring as a rule and the hens are 

 generally coloured like the cocks. As a lively green is 

 commonly the predominating colour in their costume, 

 they are not easy to see in the trees, but they take good 

 care to be heard pretty constantly. Their notes are not 

 harsh and explosive like those of the Woodpeckers 

 rather mellow indeed, but of a deadly monotony, being 

 kept up with relentless regularity for a long time. 



