130 GARDEN AND AViAKY BIRDS. 



take a few, as Coppersmiths are decided rarities in 

 England. 



THE BLUE-THROATED BARBET (Cyanops asiatica) called 

 Buna bussunt in Bengal, is a much larger bird than 

 the Coppersmith, being about the size of a House- 

 Mynah, but more stoutly built : it has a longer bill and 

 tail than the small Barbet. 



It is a very showy bird, being bright green almost all 

 over, with a sky-blue face and throat and a scarlet cap 

 crossed by a black band ; at each side of the neck is also a 

 scarlet spot. The bill is pale yellow with a black streak 

 along the ridge. The young birds are more like the old 

 ones than is the case with the Coppersmith, but their 

 head colouring is so dingy that their youth is perceptible 

 at a glance. This Barbet is found on the lower slopes 

 of the Himalayas, and in Bengal, Assam, and Burma. 

 In Calcutta it is common, though less so than the Copper- 

 smith, and, like Barbets generally, much more heard 

 than seen. It has a rolling triple call, like ' ' kuturuk ' ' 

 and is as noisy in its way as the Coppersmith, though 

 less noticeable. 



It is the easiest Barbet to keep in confinement, as it 

 can be tamed at any age and will live on satoo ; more- 

 over, several birds can be placed in the same cage with 

 impunity. Accordingly, the Blue-faced Barbet is often 

 to be found in the dealers' cages in Calcutta, and a good 

 many are sent to England, and turn up not unfrequently 

 at bird-shows. In a mixed aviary of the larger birds this 

 Barbet is always worth keeping where it is not naturally 

 found, and is generally much admired for its fine colours. 



