74 



ELEMENTS OF OENITHOLOGY. 



are as remarkable for their lightness as their size. Of this 

 group — which does not even extend to the West Indies — there 

 are fifty-nine different species. The largest of these, the Toeo 

 Toucan (Bhanyahastos toco), may stand as a type of the whole. 



Another group of brilliantly coloured climbing Birds, with 

 stout but very much smaller bills, are called Barbets, on account 

 of the long bristles which project forwards around the beak. 

 The Eed-headed Barbet (Capita erythrocepTuilus), which may 

 stand as a type, is, with a few other species, an inhabitant of 



Pig. 75. 



The Toeo Toiioan {ShampAasios toco). 



America, although its allies are for the most part Old World 

 forms. Some of these are singularly local, as is known to be 

 the case, for instance, with the Blue-faced Barbet (Megalcema 

 asiatica). In a wild state they are said to feed on fruits and 

 berries, but some of them in captivity have been known to kill 

 small birds and swallow them whole. They probably, therefore, 

 do so when wild. There are about one hundred and eight 

 species. 



The Puff-birds are in some respects like Barbets externally, 

 though they are also not unlike Kingfishers. They are smallerin 

 size than the Barbets. Forty-three species belong to the group, 



