north, of this, in Tenasserim and Arakan, it is replaced by the next species, M. cyanotis of 
Blyth. 
The Scarlet-eared Barbet is the smallest species of Megalcema ; it has an extraordinary 
development of the rictal bristles, which are often more than twice the length of the bill. 
The only two species that at all approach it in size are M. australis, which has a yellow 
spot on the cheek, and M. cyanotis , which has blue ear-coverts. 
Raffles has erroneously identified this bird with M. australis in his catalogue: the 
latter is not found at all in Sumatra. 
Mr. F. Moore, in his catalogue of Dr. Cantor’s Malayan collection, speaks of M. cyanotis 
as a variety of this species inhabiting Arakan ; and it is this belief in the identity of the two 
species that is the reason for Arakan and Tenasserim being quoted by many authors as 
localities for M. duvaucelii. The different local coloration between the two species is, 
however, apparently constant, the scarlet-eared bird being never found in Arakan, where 
the blue-eared one is common. 
Its habits and food are similar to those of the rest of this family. 
It has been figured both by Temminck (l. c.) and Gray ( 1 . c.), and is a very well- 
known bird. 
Our Plate is taken from specimens in our own collection received from Malacca. 
