THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR, 357 



contrary, had this part distinctly brighter than elsewhere. The blue 

 colour is defined nowheroj but descends well down the breast. 



The rictal bristles are longer and thicker. The bill is shorter than 

 in the adult bird of C* cyanotis^ but is wider at the base. 



The bird is shorter and smaller than an adult Cyanops cyanotisj but 

 has a proportionately longer wing and tail. 



The most noticeable thing about the bird is the breadth and stoutness 

 of the bill, and from this I have named it. 



I have compared it with the birds of the Indian Museum, Calcutta, 

 and here, where there are many skins of both C. duvacelii and C. cyanotis 

 there is nothing with which it agrees. The late Mr. Oscar Fraser (o{ 

 the Indian Museum), thinking the bird was a young C. duvacelii, tried 

 to prove that such was the case, but admitted that it could not be done* 

 The bird was one of a large number which were feeding on a Ficus^ 

 but, unfortunately, as I have already said, was cast on one side as a 

 young (7. cyanotis^ and no trouble was taken to obtain any others. 

 (402) XANTHOLiEMA H^MATOCEPHALA.— The Crimsou-breasted 



Barbet. 

 Hume, No. 197 i Blanford, No. 1019. 

 Very common in the plains, but not ascending the hills beyond 

 two or three hundred feet. I have often observed this small barbet^ 

 as well as C. cyanotis^ clambering about a tree like a woodpecker and 

 tap-tapping in the same manner, but it does not do this for the purpose 

 of hunting for insects, but to find a proper place in which to commence 

 its nest-holcj judging, I suppose, from the sound of the taps as to 

 whether the wood is sufficiently soft and rotten for the purpose 

 required, 



Okder— UpuPuE. 



Family Upupidce. 



(403) Upupa epops. — The European Hoopoe. 



Hume, No. 254 ; Blanford, No. 1066. 



A fairly frequent winter visitant i one or two birds remaining to breed. 



(404) Upupa indica. — The Indian Hoopoe. 



Hume^ Nos. 254 his and 255 ; Blanford, No. 1067. 



The most common form of Hoopoe in Cachar is, undoubtedly, Gates' 



U. longirostris ; next to this come birds which can be placed neither with 



U. neylonensia or V. longirostris and, finally, there are plenty of birds which 



