IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 225 



Breeding. — Woodpeckers have never bred in captivity, but some- 

 times, though rarely, wild birds build and lay within the garden. The 

 mango and kadam appear to be their favourite trees for building, but 

 on one occasion a pair were found to lay in a hole in the trunk of a 

 cocoanut palm ; they were of course usurpers, the hole having been made 

 by some barbets. 



Observations on the habit of the Woodpecker. 



The woodpecker being a climbing bird, as soon as one is placed in 

 an aviary, it ascends by the wire netting of the cage, but not being so 

 adept in moving down as in climbiDg up, it remains adhering to the 

 wire almost at the very top of "the cage, until helped down by a keeper. 

 Tamer birds soon take to tapping the dead trees inside an aviary. It is 

 interesting to observe a woodpecker feeding ; it licks up its food with its 

 long vermiform tongue, the tip of which is furnished with tiny recurved 



(94) THE WEYNECK. 

 (IYNX TOEQUILLA— {Linn.) ) 



The wryneck is found in most parts of India ; more common in 

 Western than in Lower Bengal. 



The only specimen ever obtained for the garden did not survive 

 more than a week ; it is a difficult bird to keep in captivity, owing to its 

 peculiar habit of procuring food while on the wing. 



(95) THE GREAT INDIAN BAEBET. 

 (MEGAL^MA MAESHALLOEUM— Swinh.) 



Description. —The whole head, including the nape and neck, violet 

 blue ; upper part of the back coppery brown ; the lower back, rump and 

 upper tail-coverts light green, which in a very healthy specimen is 

 glossy ; parts of the wing have yellowish patches ; tail green, with faint 

 bluish tinge ; breast brown ; abdomen pale yellow, with brown streaks 

 or blotches ; under tail-coverts crimson, bill yellow ; total length about 

 13 inches. 



Hab. — Throughout the Himalayas, extending through Assam to 

 China ; these birds are generally brought down to Calcutta from Bhutan 

 and Sikhim. 



Length of life in captivity. 

 A specimen has been living in the garden for the last five years. 



(96) THE BLUE-FACED BAEBET. 

 (CYANOPS ASIATIC A— (Lath.) ) 

 Bengali — Basanta-bairi y in some parts of Bengal. 

 This bird is readily distinguished from other barbets by its red cap 

 with the black band across ; its blue face and throat, and the bright 



