252 A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NEPAL. 



I remember. If my surmise be correct, then the western form, 

 ■which has hitherto been called hodgsoni, will require a new name, 

 and it is to be hoped that some one will examine Bonaparte's 

 type and ssettle the question. 



Hodgson's Barbet is common in the Dun, about Hetoura, 

 and in parts of the S^l fouest ; but it does not ascend the bills to 

 any great height, nor is it ever found in the valley of Nepal. I 

 found it very common at Hetoura in December, flitting about the 

 edge of the forest, but more especially haunting the huge Semal 

 trees (^Bomhax, ?heptapi/lla). There the Barbet was busy 

 feeding out of the flowers of these Silk-cotton trees, going about 

 from blossom to blossom in the most deliberate and attentive 

 manner. Half a dozen shots fired from the road below, hardly 

 sufficed to divert its attention for a moment from its pressing 

 occupation ; or at most, when a bird fell to my shot, the others 

 would fly oflp quietly to the jungle, and return again to their 

 favourite tree in about five minutes. The birds were at such a 

 height that no shot smaller than No. 3 had the slightest effect 

 on them, and I had to bring one down with a wire cartridge. 



195.— Megalsema asiatica, Lath. 



Dimensions of sixteen fresh specimens. — Length, 8'5 to 9"75 ; 

 expanse, 13 to 14*3; wing, 4 to 4*4; tail, 2'8 to 3"3 ; tarsus, 

 0-85 to 1-1 ; bill from gape, 1*2 to 1-5 ; bill at front, 0-93 to 

 1'04 ; closed wings short of tail, 1"3 to 2*7. 



Bill greenish yellow horny, black above; margins of eyelids 

 orange; irides hazel brown, bi'own, and reddish brown; feet 

 dingy green ; claws horny black. 



The red rictal spot is always distinct in fresh specimens. A 

 nestling, obtained in the valley on the 20th June, had the wing 

 3'45, bill at front 0-7, and the bar across the top of the head 

 dark blue. A male, shot on the 13th September, with the wing 

 4*4, had also the band on the top of the head dark blue, and 

 there was just the faintest trace of the red rictal spot. 



The Blue-throated Barbet is exceedingly common in the 

 valley of Nepal throughout tlie year, frequenting the tree-covered 

 hill slopes up to an elevation of not more than about 6,000 

 feet, and in all the woods of the central part of the valley. It 

 was common in the Nawakot district in November, and was 

 heard or obtained at Ohitlang, Nimboatar, Hetoura, Bichiakob 

 and in the plaiust Its call and habits are very well known, 



196. — Megaleema franklini, Bly. 



Male, Valley, June. — Length, 9"3; expanse, 13'8 ; wing, 

 4*15 ; tail, 3*2 ; tarsus, I'O ; bill from gape, 13 ; bill at front, 

 0*85 ; closed wings short of tail, 2"5. 



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