on the Birds of South-eastern China. 185 



They have been observed to hunt on the ground for ants, 

 and if disturbed to run for a tree and walk up the opposite 

 side of it to the observer. They do not give vent to their 

 characteristic and unpleasing call in the winter months. 



Megal.ema virens. 



The Great Chinese Barbet occurs only in the sacred forest 

 at Howlik, that sanctuary of so many species of birds, and 

 there it is both resident and common. It spends most of its 

 time at the top of some tall tree, and when it takes to flight 

 has the appearance of falling from, rather than of springing 

 from, its perch in the manner of other species. The flight 

 is slow and undulating, and accompanied by a loud rustling 

 sound, which is audible at a considerable distance. 



These birds are very noisy, and especially so in the spring 

 and summer, when their loud and mournful cry may be 

 constantly heard, in addition to which they also have a harsh 

 screech. 



Their food consists of various fruits and berries, which they 

 vigorously tear from the pedicles Avith their strong beaks, and 

 it is when so engaged that it is easy to shoot a specimen, for 

 it is on other occasions difiicult to see, so protective is its 

 colouring. On no occasion was the Barbet ever seen on the 

 ground. 



About the middle of April these birds are paired and 

 commence to excavate their nesting-holes, which is done by 

 either sex alternately. When excavating, the bird clings to 

 the trunk of the tree in a vertical position, using the tail as 

 a fulcrum and making a savage stab at the semi-decayed 

 wood ; it wrenches out a piece and lets it fall, and when this 

 has been repeated about some twenty times the worker 

 takes a rest and is relieved by its mate. It is only on 

 these occasions that the bird takes up this Woodpecker-like 

 attitude, at all other times it perches on a branch in the 

 usual Passerine fashion. 



The nesting-hole is excavated in a leisurely fashion, since 

 one commenced on April 14 was still unfinished on the 

 24th, but then this species, like many others, often begins 

 a nesting-site only to leave it incomplete. No eggs were 



