Fam. CAPIT0NID2E.
154. P oqon orh y nch u s torquatus . Black-collared Barbet.
Laimodon nigrithorax, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 233.
This Barbet is a bird of the eastern districts. Mr. Rickard says
it is rather plentiful near East London, and it is not uncommon
about Graham’s Town, and Mr. T. 0. Atmore collected an abundant
supply of specimens near Eland’s Post, where it was found feeding
on fruit and berries. Mr. P. A. Barratt observes: “ I have
noticed these birds near Pretoria and in Kaffraria. I shot
several near Rustenberg, where they abound, especially about
the fruit-gardens.” Mr. Ayres has procured them in Natal, and
Captain Shelley writes: “ Yery common about Pineto.wn, but I
never met with them nearer the coast : they were generally in pairs,
frequenting the scattered trees or the edges of woods.” Mr. T. E.
Buckley obtained one specimen close to the Limpopo, near Pretoria,
where he considers it must be rather a rare bird. Dr. Kirk states
that it is common in open forests of the Zambesi valley, frequently to
be found on fig-trees. It occurs also higher up the coast at Mombas,
while Speke procured it at Uzaramo. On the western side of the
continent it has been found by Anchieta at Huilla and Biballa in
Mossamedes, and again at Pungo Andongo in Angola. Mr. Barratt
says it has a harsh, disagreeable note. “ Their food,” writes Mr.
Ayres, “ appears principally to consist of small fruits and berries,
which they swallow whole. Their note is particularly loud; the
syllables kook koroo, repeated eight or ten times would give a good
idea of i t ; frequently both male and female call at the same time,
and when perched close together keep up a quick succession of
bows to each other, bowing at the repetition of each note.”
The genus Pogonorhynchus, to which the present species and the
next belong, is characterised, according to the Messrs. Marshal^ 0ur
best authorities on the family, by its strongly toothed bill. The
coloration of the species is its best distinguishing character, and its
large size. The only other South African species which has anything
like a red head and black pectoral collar is Trachyphonus cafer,
which is at once distinguished by its long black crest, black back,
yellow rump, and crimson upper-tail-coverts.
Top of head and front, sides of head, chin, throat, and gorget,
brilliant scarlet, all bounded by a band of glossy black, more or less
broad; back and shoulders yellowish brown; quill-feathers of wings
and tail dark-brown, margined with bright-yellow, the latter very
slightly so; under parts ashy-white, marked with sulphur yellow;
base of bill sparsely covered with long bristles; bill black; feet
black [Buckley), brown [Ayres), slaty brown [Shelley); iris reddish
brown [Ayres, Shelley), dark brown [Buckley).
Fig. Marshall, Monogr. Capit, pi. x.
155. P o go norhynchus leucomelas. The Pied Barbet.
Laimodon leucomelas, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 232.
La/imodon unidentatus, id., t. c. p. 233.
This Barbet is common in mimosa bush throughout the Karroo,
and has apparently a very wide range, having been received from
Beaufort, Swellendam, Knysna, Kaffraria, Colesberg, Hopetown,
Kuruman, and Damaraland. It does not occur, as far as we yet
know, in Natal, and Mr. T. E. Buckley says that they were first seen
by him about the trees in Pretoria; he also found them from the
north of the Transvaal into the Matabili country. Mr. Barratt states
that he has often seen this Barbet in the Transvaal, and has also
received it from Marico. Mr. Buckley met with it as far north as the
Tatti, but it has not been recorded from the Zambesi. On the
western coast, however, it extends much further, and according to
Mr. Andersson, it is “ found from the northern border of Great
Namaqua Land (south of which it was not observed), as far north as
the river Okavango; and it also occurs at Lake N’garni. In the
neighbourhood of Objimbinque it is rather abundant.” The same
gentleman also procured specimens in Ondonga, while Anchieta has
procured it on the Rio Coroca in Mossamedes. Mr. Monteiro collected
several of this Barbet in Benguela, and it even ranges into
Angola proper, from whence specimens have been forwarded to the
Lisbon Museum.
Mr. Andersson remarks that in Damara Land, it is “ found singly
or in pairs, and is remarkable for its clear-ringing and far-sounding
notes, which, though heard at all hours of the day, are most frequent
in the early morning. It food consists chiefly of fruit and seeds; but
it will to some extent accommodate itself as regards food to the