on the Golden-Throated Barbet.



325



brought down upon himself such a storm followed up by swift

action that he would quickly bottle up his rebellious spirit and

sulkily withdraw into his shell.


The Golden-throated Barbet is a bird of much character,

but is not imbued with a superabundance of modesty. My No. 1

gloried in flying into the garden ; and from the highest and most

conspicuous perch he would defy the feathered world to mortal

combat. The other birds found it convenient not to hear the

challenge, and passed by on the other side when he came their

way. Nevertheless he rarely actively interfered with any that I

then possessed, the Barbet excepted. That he was capable of

making himself disagreeable to unfavoured companions may be

gathered from the following extract from a letter written to me

by Mrs. Johnstone long after I had forwarded the two birds to

her:—“ One of the Barbets is alive and verj^ well. I must part

with him. ..... He is a curious and interesting bird, but I had

to take him out of my Touracos’ aviary as he absolutely terrorised

them. He has a very powerful beak and I think used it with

great effect.” To this I must add that, with me at any rate, these

Barbets ( Cyanops) never attempted to hurt the little birds. But

they have very strong dislikes, whatever their likes may be, and

the following case I think correctly exemplifies the temper and

pertinacious character of the genus. Many years ago a male

Blue-cheeked Barbet in my garden took a dislike to a male

Tesser Hill-Mynah (h/aznatns religiosics), perhaps because the

latter was so talkative. The Barbet would follow the Mynah

round and round the aviary, in and out, here and there and

everywhere, with a ruthlessness that was almost diabolical. The

Mynah was the cleverer in dodging, and on the wing amongst the

trees and shrubs, and could escape, but the Barbet would continue

the pursuit with untiring pertinacity, keeping the Mynah con¬

stantly on the move like a stoat pursuing a rabbit.


The Barbets of the genus Cyanops are thrown away when

kept in a cage ; moreover, owing to the nature of their food,

although preserving their plumage well, they are objectionable

when confined in a small place. The objections apply with of

course greater force to the keeping of the larger Barbets of the

genus Megalcema in cages or living rooms, however engaging they



