388 
Mr. R. Swinhoe on Formosan Ornithology. 
the great M. virens , which is also an abundant bird in some 
parts of India. In Formosa it is represented by this smaller 
but more lovely species, the Hoe-kwa-cheow, or Embroidered Bird, 
of the Chinese colonists. This Barbet is a true forest-bird, fre¬ 
quenting the higher mountains of the interior, where it may be 
met with in great abundance, though generally scattered through 
the wood singly or in pairs. It affects the highest branches of 
large trees, sitting solitary and often motionless for hours to¬ 
gether. Its note is loud and discordant, the bird often making 
its presence known by its voice when one would otherwise pass 
it by unnoticed from the resemblance of its plumage to the 
general foliage. When seen flying from tree to tree, it looks 
like a cross between an Oriole and a Parrot, if such a thing can 
be imagined. It feeds on berries and occasionally on insects, 
also, as I am told, on small birds. 
Bill light bluish grey at the base of upper and basal half of 
lower mandible, the rest deep greyish black. Legs leaden grey, 
with a greenish tinge; sole-pads dingy brownish; claws brown¬ 
ish white, greyish black on their arches and sides. Irides red¬ 
dish-brown. General plumage yellowish green. A spot on each 
lore, a large one on the breast, and a somewhat obscure one on 
the upper back carmine. Fore part of the crown greenish yellow, 
golden near the bill, and blending towards the occiput into the 
fine light-blue nuchal band that encircles the head including 
the cheeks, but narrowing on the underneck above the red spot. 
Throat above this band golden yellow. A band of black runs 
over the eye and ear-coverts; another starts from the nostrils, 
passing the red loral spot, reaches under the eye to the ear- 
coverts ; the feathers of this band are tipped under the eye with 
blue, near the bill with greenish. Tail a fine green, with black 
shafts. Quills black, broadly margined on their outer webs with 
green, the primaries having further a yellowish edge; some of 
the tertiaries almost entirely green. Under parts pale leek-green, 
brighter and yellower on the breast. Axillaries, inner edges of 
most of the remiges, inner portion of tibise, and a part of the belly 
pale yellow.—Length 7j^ in.; wing 4j^; tail 2 T ^, of ten 
slightly graduated feathers; under surface greenish blue, with 
pale ochreous shafts. 1st quill short, 4th and 5th longest. 
