316 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



It is not found on the Himalayas, nor in the Punjab, according to 

 Adams. It is very common wherever there is a sufficiency of 

 trees, inhabiting open spaces in the jungles, groves of trees, 

 avenues, and gardens, being very familiar, and approaching 

 close to houses, and not unfrequently perching on the house-top. 

 As far as I have observed, it does not climb like the Woodpeckers ; 

 but hops about the branches, like other perching birds. The 

 Rev. Mr. Pliilipps, indeed, as quoted by Horsfield, states, that it 

 runs up and down the tree like a Woodpecker, and other observers 

 have asserted it climbs to its hole : but I confess that I have never 

 seen this, and Mr. Blyth is most decidedly of opinion that the Barbets 

 never climb. This naturalist found that one, which he kept alive, 

 would take insects into its mouth and munch them, but swallowed 

 none of them, and forsook them immediately when fruit was offered. 

 Its chief food is fruit of various kinds, sometimes perhaps insects. 

 It has a remarkably loud note, which sounds like took — took — took, 

 and this it generally utters when seated on the to[) of some tree, 

 nodding its head at each call, first to one side, then to another. 

 Sundevall states, that it is like a rather low note on the flute, from 

 the lower G to the second E. This sound, and the motion of 

 its head accompanying it, have given origin to the name of 

 ' Copper-smith,' by which it is known both among natives and 

 Europeans. The sound often appears to come from a different 

 direction to that from which it does really ])roceed ; and this 

 appears to me to depend on the direction of the bird's head when 

 uttering the call. Mr. Philipps accounts for it, by saying that it 

 alters the intensity of its call. Sundevall remarks that "the same 

 individual always utters the same note, but that two are seldom heard 

 to make it exactly alike. Wlien, therefore, two or more birds are 

 sitting near each other, a not unpleasant music arises from the 

 alternation of the notes, each sounding like the tone of a series of 

 bells." It breeds in holes in trees, laying two (or more) white eggs. 

 A pair bred in my garden at Saugor, in the cross-beam of a vinery. 

 The entrance was from the under side of the beam, perfectly 

 circular. It appeared to have been used for several years; and the 

 bird had gone on lengthening the cavity inside, year by year, till 

 the distance from the original entrance was four or five feet ; and 



