246 BOMBAY DUCKS 
Ornithologists have saddled this bird with the name 
of Xantholema hematocephala, Since many persons 
will find this rather a mouthful, it is necessary to 
remark that it is scientifically correct to call the bird 
the crimson-breasted barbet. He is a coarse, showy 
bird. He may often be seen in the Moore Market at 
Madras, and, not infrequently, hawkers in the Mount 
Road offer the bird for sale. There are usually some 
coppersmiths in the Museum, in a cage near the en- 
trance. These birds are made to share a dwelling 
with other species, such as Brahminy mynas. Under 
such conditions the coppersmiths never survive long. 
It is not that they are killed by the other inmates 
of the cage or that they cannot endure confinement. 
The reason of their speedy death is that the grain 
which is meat to so many birds is death to the copper- 
smith. If the latter be fed purely on fruit, he will 
often survive long in captivity. But the captive bird 
is not happy; no matter how warm the weather be, he 
never goes to work at his forge. 
But this is a digression. To return to the appear- 
ance of the bird. It always puts me in mind of a 
woman who “makes up” very carelessly, who is not 
only exceedingly lavish of the paint, but does not 
understand how to shade it off gradually. The general 
colour of the bird’s plumage is greenish, but on close 
inspection many greyish-white feathers are seen to be 
mingled with the green ones. There is a daub of 
crimson on the forehead and another on the throat. 
The sides of the face are pale yellow. The legs are 
coral-red. The build of the bird is exceedingly coarse. 
