182 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the American Barbets. 
the eggs 1 got (about twenty-five in number) were either fresh or 
nearly so. There are hardly any other birds in Round Island, 
and these two are probably the only species that breed there, with 
the exception of the small Turtle-Dove ( Geopelia striata , Gray), 
of which I saw a pair—the only land-birds, indeed, I observed. 
Between Round Island and Mauritius I saw a few Frigate-birds 
(Tachypetes -?), another species of Shearwater [Procellaria 
assimilis of Gould, I think), and a few Noddy Terns (Anoiis 
stolidus, Leach). These latter are said to breed on Serpent Island, 
about two miles to the northward of Round Island, whence it 
looks as if covered with a slight snow-shower—an appearance 
said to be caused by the dung of the birds. It has only been 
once or twice visited, and we had not time to go there; be¬ 
sides, the landing there is always exceedingly difficult. Round 
Island for that matter is bad enough, and is only accessible two 
months in the year. On it there are still the remains of the 
cave and old stone wall which was built as a shelter by the late 
Colonel Lloyd when he was there some fifteen or sixteen years 
ago, and had to stay more than a week on account of a hurri¬ 
cane. The present Acting Surveyor-General, to whom the island 
belongs, and who accompanied me on my visit, was then one of 
the party. They were thought by all here to have been lost or 
starved, and a steamer was sent to their relief; but from the 
number of empty bottles that are left, they could not have done 
so badly in the drinking way. We were only away one night, 
that of November 3, and left again the following day at noon; so 
we had not much time, and I suppose I shall not be able to get 
there again for another year. 
XIX.— On the American Barbets (Capitonidse). 
By Philip Lutley Sclater. 
(Plate VI.) 
The true Barbets of the tropics of both hemispheres ( Capitonida ) 
have been united by some systematists with the Woodpeckers 
(Picidce ), whilst others have mixed them up with the Fissirostral 
Bucconidce or Puff-birds—a group which cannot certainly be placed 
far from the Kingfishers ( Alcedinidce ). Though I agree with the 
