242 Barbets, and tlieir Distribution. 



ists, to adopt for the bird, referring it at the same time to the 

 correct genus Megalcema. Subsequently to Latham's descrip- 

 tion this Barbet was figured by the French naturalist Le 

 Vaillant in the second volume of his large illustrated work 

 " On Paradise Birds and Rollers."" It has likewise been 

 provided with other names by different writers on ornithology, 

 with an account of which we need not trouble our readers. 



The native country of the Blue-throated Barbet is the 

 eastern portion of British India. It is found throughout Lower 

 Bengal, and extends northwards along the sub-Himalayan 

 region, as far as the Dehra Doon and Kumaon. Eastwards it 

 occurs in Assam and Sylhet, but is stated to be rare in Arra- 

 can and Tenasserim. 



Within this area the present bird would appear to be rather 

 an abundant species, and to have attracted the notice of many 

 of the Indian field-naturalists, who have furnished us with 

 some interesting observations on its habits. Professor Sunde- 

 vall, whose notes on the birds met with in the vicinity of Cal- 

 cutta have been translated by the late Mr. Strickland, tells us 

 that this Barbet is common near that city in the months from 

 February to May, and feeds on berries, which were always 

 found broken in its stomach. It is a solitary bird, and like 

 others of the same genus, remarkable for its loud note, which 

 " may be expressed by rohurog ! rokurog ! the middle syllable 

 being uttered in a higher key than the other two. Both sexes 

 cry in the same manner, sitting still, with outstretched neck ; 

 at intervals they were seen to spring aside, or transversely 

 across the branch, with considerable activity." 



Major Pearson remarks that this species is common in 

 Bengal, but less so in Orissa, and that he did not observe it at 

 Juanpore. " It has a peculiar habit, when perched, of bowing 

 the head, accompanying each motion with a single note resem- 

 bling the word hoo. It has two broods — one in the month of 

 May, the other in November.'" 



Mr. F. Buchanan Hamilton, in his MS. notes quoted by 

 Mr. F. Moore, states that the Bengalee name of this bird is 

 " Bassunt bari" or "Old Woman of the Spring," probably 

 from the noise that it makes at this season of the year. He 

 gives its food, as " wild figs, plantains, and other fruit." 



Lieutenant- Colonel Tickell, a well-known Indian field- 

 naturalist, has described the nest of this bird as hemispherical, 

 composed of dry grass, and placed externally upon a tree. 

 But there can be no doubt that he has been misled on this 

 point, for all the Barbets nest in holes of trees, and, like 

 other birds that lay their eggs in similar situations, produce 

 white eggs, and it is hardly possible that this species should 

 prove an exception. Indeed, wo are told by another equally 



