

220 XAJSTHOL.EMA H.EMACEPHALA. 



notes, each sounding like the tone of a series of bells." The difference in sound, as I have already remarked, 

 is produced by the alternate twisting of the birds' heads, that of one being directed towards, while that of the 

 other is turned away, from the listener while the note is being delivered. Jerdon, I remark, advocates the 

 same reason. 



This Barbet has been stated to run up the trunks of trees ; this it assuredly does not ; it may be seen 

 clinging to the bark of a tree at the commencement of the breeding-season, tapping the wood in order to find 

 some soft or hollow place to make its nest in, but it has no power of proceeding up the surface of the trees. 

 It congregates in large flocks, in company with Pigeons, to feed on the fruit of the Banyan-, Bo-, and Palu- 

 trees, and quickly returns to the feast after being frightened away. 



Nidification. — This species breeds from January until June, April being, I imagine, the month in which 

 most young are reared. It generally nests in small decayed branches, boring them on the lower side when 

 they happen to be slanting. As is the case with the former species, it selects, if possible, a branch that is 

 hollow, and cutting its neatly-made round entrance, lays its eggs at the bottom of the cavity. Should the 

 branch not be hollow, however, it will excavate to a depth of 6 inches or more, and will even continue to 

 deepen it year after year. An instance of this is given by Jerdon, who had a pair breeding year after year in 

 the cross beam of a vinery in his garden ; the cavity was lengthened annually until "the distance from 

 the original end was 1 or 5 feet." Another entrance was made from the underside, as was the first, and about 

 2tt feet from the nest. A pair that bred in a tree opposite my bungalow in the Fort at Trincomalie took from 

 a fortnight to three weeks to construct the entrance and a short internal cavity. The opening was on the 

 underside of a branch inclined at about 30°. The birds took it by turns to work, and the assiduity with 

 which they laboured at the solid branch was extremely interesting. The little " carpenter" clung to the bark 

 beneath the orifice, and swinging its body sideways and backwards would bring the whole of its strength to 

 bear on the blow which it delivered with its stout little beak. I observed that the tail was seldom used as a 

 support unless when a very vigorous blow was about to be dealt. 'When tired he would fly to an adjacent 

 branch and look at the work with a contented aspect, and after a rest commence anew. 



Mr. Parker writes me that he once watched one working at a hole in a most sedate manner. " After 

 swaying his body sideways a little, whilst he was selecting a suitable chip to attack, he very gravely gave two 

 or three sharp taps with his bill and detached a piece of wood. He then, after looking round him, proceeded 

 in the same way to select another chip and detach it, and so on, as if he intended to spend his whole existence 

 at the work." 



Mr. Adam describes a nest which was made in the foi - k of a dead branch lying by the side of a thorough- 

 fare, and so small that it could easily be lifted by the hand. 



The eggs are usually three in number and arc of an elongated shape ; they arc pure white, and have a 

 pinkish tinge before being blown; they average 099 by OG9 inch (Hume). 





