This very lovely Barbet is closely allied to M. nuchalis, the chief feature which 
distinguishes it being the scarlet occipital spot. It is found exclusively in Sumatra, and 
must be as rare as it is beautiful, for no traveller has recorded its occurrence since 1835 
when Muller discovered it, while even Mr. A. R. Wallace does not appear to have succeeded 
in obtaining a specimen. Muller found it in the dense forests of the South West Coast of 
the island, and the three specimens brought home by him are the only ones we know of in 
Europe. 
With the original description a figure of the head was given, and with this exception no 
other illustration of this Barbet exists. Our plate is taken from one of Muller’s specimens 
belonging to the Leiden Museum, and very kindly lent to us by Professor Schlegel, to whom 
we are indebted for the loan of several other unique specimens. 
