250 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



They are by no means the dull, stupid, gluttonous birds 

 they have been represented, but are as lively and active as 

 most others, though little seen on the wing, while their green 

 colour occasions them to be not much observed among the foliage. 

 When feeding they are silent ; but ma)' be observed in numbers 

 on a spreading bar tree {Ficus indicus) when the diminutive figs 

 are ripe, together with Coels {Eudynamys orientalis), Hurrials 

 [Trcron), Orioles, and other kinds of birds which resort to the 

 same diet. In no respect, however, are they gregarious in the 

 least degree.* The size of the Buccomdce varies from that of a 

 Jay down to that of a Sparrow ; and that they nestle in holes of 

 trees, as commonly described, we have at least this evidence, that 

 we have seen three unfledged young of B. asiaticics taken out of 

 a hole in a mango tree ;t but we have not been able to obtain the 

 eggs. In confinement we have kept them {Biicco asiaticus and B. 

 indicus) long on plaintains, but they much prefer berries which 

 tliey can swallow entire, and smear the plumage of the head much 

 when obliged to feed on plaintains ; nevertheless they continued 

 in health, and would often utter their loud notes. They never 

 descended to the ground except to drink, or when food was lying 

 there and none elsewhere. The sexes of all appear to be similax*. 



* Of one or more Cape species, Dr. A. Smith informed us : — " Flight 

 straight ; the wings moved rather rapidly and to a considerable extent. 

 Some of them whistle when perched, and utter a hoarse scream when 

 surprised. Generally several individuals are found in the same locahty, but 

 not associated ; when distm-bed they never fly together, but each takes a 

 different course." This is pretty much as in the Asiatic species. 



t We are therefore satisfied that Capt. Tickell described the nest and eggs 

 of some other bhd as those of B. asiaticus, in J. A. S. xvii. 298. Dr. A. 

 Smith, in his obliging communication (1837), remarks of the Cape species 

 before referred to, " They nestle in holes of decayed trees and ascend (?) to 

 them ; but I have never seen them feeding in holes." Does he mean that 

 they run up the trunk ? The word ascend is not legible with certainty in 

 his MS. ; but in Mr. Swainsou's ' Classification of Bhds,' ii. 13G, we read 

 that "Mr. Burchell was the first naturalist who discovered the afiinity" 

 (N.B. Similarity of habit does not, of necessity, imply affinity) "of these 

 birds to the Woodpeckers, having repeatetUy heard their loud tajjpiug in the 

 forests of S. Africa, and witnessed their dexterity in climbing trees." We 

 doubt that the Asiatic Barbets either climb or tap. Mr. Jcrdon remarks of 

 B. asiaticus, " This bhd does not climb like a Woodpecker, and I never 

 heard any tapping from the trees it fi-equents ;" and of B. indicus, " Though 

 I never detected this Barbet tapping like the Woodpeckers, I have once or 

 twice had good reason for supposing that it does so occasionally." Query. 



