216 Catalogue of the Birds [Apbk. 



Sub Gems CHRYSONOTUS, Sw. 



215. — C. tiga. — P. tic/a, Horsf. and Wagler. — C. tridactyhis, Sw. — 

 Crimson-backed Woodpecker. 



This very elegant Woodpecker is found in the forests of the western 

 coast, both at a low level and as high as 5000 feet, at which height I 

 have seen it on the Coonoor pass of the Neilgherries. The specimens 

 shot below the ghauts are considerably smaller thnn those I obtained 

 at a great elevation, which latter attained the size of P. Shorii of 

 Vigors, though not differing in colour from the smaller ones. 



Irides fine crimson ; bill and legs dark slaty. Length varies from 9| 

 to nearly 12 inches ; of one of the latter size the wing is 5£ j tail near- 

 ly 4; bill to front 1 inch ; at gape 1 T Vhs ; of one 9^ inches; the bill 

 to front is T Vh.s ; at gape 1 T V IU - 



Sub Family BUCCOIN^E, Sw. 



Genus BUCCO, L,— Barbet. 



216.— if. Indicus, Lath.— P. Philippennsis, Gmel. P. E. 333.-5. 

 favicollis, Vieillot. — B. rubricapillus, Lath, (from Brown, lllust. pi. 14.) 

 . — B. luteus, Lesson, albino variety. — Kut-Khora, H — also Tambayut 

 i. e. Copper-smith, which name it receives also from some European 

 residents. — Red-creseented Barbet. 



The Copper-smith is extremely common in all parts of the country, 

 wherever there are a sufficiency of trees, inhabiting open spaces in the 

 jungles (never in the denser portions), groves, avenues, and gardens; 

 being very familiar, approaching close to houses, and sometimes perching 

 on the house top. As far as I have observed, it does not climb like the 

 woodpeckers, but when feeding, hops about the branches like a perching 

 bird. Though 1 never detected this Barbet tapping like the wood- 

 peckers, I have once or twice had good reason for supposing that it 

 does so occasionally. The chief food of the Copper-smith is fruit of 

 various kinds, sometimes insects. When not employed in feeding, it 

 generally seats itself on the very top of a tree, and gives utterance to its 

 monotonous call of ' took took took' (as represented by Sykes), nodding 

 its head at each call, first to one side and then to the other. 



Irides lake red; bill black ; legs red. Length 6i inches; wing 

 3_«^ths; tail li ; tarsus Jilhs ; bill at front nearly T Vhs; at gape 

 I inch. 



