ON THE GENEEA.
2nd. Picidce, or Woodpeckers, present many characteristics, the stiff serrated tail and
hard wedge-shaped beak being t h e most conspicuous,-which are wanting in Capitonidat: a
very close approach between the families, however, is made by the Picumninoe on the one
hand, and the genus Barbatula on t h e o t h e r ; the wedge-shaped stiff tail has disappeared
in t h e former, giving place to t h e soft, rounded tail of the Barbets; they may, however,
be still distinguished by t h e tongue, which is extensile in Picumnus as in true Pious, and
short and cartilaginous in Capitonidw.
3rd. Cuculidce, or Cuckoos, may be distinguished by t h e outer toe, which is versatile in
them, and turned completely backward in Capitonidm; further their comparatively small
beak, long tail, sombre plumage, and many other minor points exhibit their dissimilarity.
The genus Chrysococcyx, or Emerald Cuckoos, a r e an exception in colour of plumage, but
present t h e same differences in form. The approach would appear to be between Coccystes,
or Crested Cuckoos, on t h e one hand, and t h e African genus Tmchyphonus on the other,
though even here t h e difference in formation of t h e feet and arrangement of the toes holds
good. Lastly, in the Cuculidce the humerus always exceeds the ulna in length, while in
t h e Capitonidw the reverse is t h e case, t h e nearest approach being still in Tmchyphonus.
4th. The Psittacidw, or Parrots, all possess t h e well-known form of strongly hooked upper
and truncated lower mandible, making t h e bill higher at base than it is long, a form to
which there is hardly any approach among t h e Capitonidw.
The genus Indicator is closely allied t o t h e Barbets, but may be distinguished by t h e bill,
which is smaller and truncated. Besides these t h e r e are no families sufficiently analogous to
require notice here.
ON T H E GENERA.
I n this chapter we have divided the family, primarily, into three subfamilies, and, secondarily,
i n t o thirteen genera, at the same time noting the most prominent characteristics of
each genus; and, thirdly, we have endeavoured to define the distinguishing colorization of
each species, so as t o enable t h e reader to identify any particular bird belonging to this
family without difficulty.
We propose to divide the Capitonidw into three great subfamilies as follows:—
A. Rostro deutato Pogonorhynchiiue.
B. Rostro Isevi, setis rictalibus longis, vel post Dares densis, maxilla;
mandibtdeeque apice aequo Megalcemina.
C. Rostro laevi, setis rictalibus minimis vcl deficientibus, maxilla
incurva apice ultra mandibulam breviter protcuso Capitonbue.
The scansorial Barbets are a group of birds inhabiting suitable localities throughout the
tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and America. They are unknown in Australia and Europe.
Though strictly arboreal in their habits, and living only in forest districts or open countries
ON THE GENERA. xxi
interspersed with groves of trees, they are neither shy nor difficult to approach. Where the
districts they are found in happen to be at all thickly populated, the Barbets show no disposition
to retreat to more secluded quarters, b u t take up their abode in gardens and frequently
breed in trees close to the houses. They usually keep to the tops of t h e trees, but
may occasionally be seen creeping among the branches of small bushes and underwood.
Their food is fruit, seeds, buds, and occasionally insects; these latter are very seldom
resorted to in Asia, more frequently in Africa, and with some American species they form
t h e staple food. They are not gregarious, though a great number may sometimes be seen
together in a fig-tree at the fruit-season. They live in pairs during the breeding-season,
which is in the spring, and commence moulting in September. They rarely, if ever, descend
to the ground, and appear to move from tree to tree only when compelled to do so in search of
food, or when disturbed by an intruder. Then- flight is powerful, but heavy and undulating,
very similar to that of a Woodpecker. A curious instance of their disinclination to travel
is seen in the fact of the Himalayan lineated Barbet (M. Hodgsoni) and the hoary jungle
Barbet (M. caniceps) never crossing the narrow valley of the Dehra Doon, though both are
abundant in their respective boundaries—also that the Blue-faced Barbet (M. asiatica) is
confined to the valley of the Jumna, in the district between Mussoorie and Simla, though
there are many other valleys apparently equally suitable. When not in pursuit of food, they
sit motionless among the foliage near the tops of the trees, and exhibit none of that vivacity
which is so marked a characteristic of the Passerine birds, among which they have been
sometimes erroneously classed. Their voice is loud and ringing, it consists almost always of
one, two, or three syllables, given out with extraordinary power, and may be heard at midday
and on a moonlight night when all other sounds are hushed; some of the American
species have, in common with the Toucans, the habit of j e r k i n g their tail up over their back
when they utter the call. The male and female occasionally keep up what appears to be a
calling-match for about ten minutes, and then suddenly cease.
As far as is known, they all build in holes of trees, which they make for themselves in
soft or decayed branches; no lining is needed for the nest, a few of the broken chips being
left at the bottom of a hole; the entrance is circular and neatly bevelled, resembling that
of a Woodpecker; the hole is generally about eight or ten inches deep, varying, of course,
with t h e size of the bird. They lay t h r e e or four shining white eggs with rather thin shells,
and rather elongated blunt oval in shape, both ends being nearly similar. They are laid in
the latter end of April and beginning of May in Northern India.
Barbets a r e occasionally caged; but they are very seldom brought to England, and do not
bear confinement very well; consequently little is known of them in this country, except to
ornithologists. An interesting account of one of them in captivity, by Mr. Layard, will be
found quoted under the heading of M. zcylanica.
Their plumage, though very brilliant, is tasteless and too gaudy, and their shape is heavy
and ugly, which will account for their skins not yet having been promoted to t h e positions
with which pretty birds' feathers are generally associated in the minds of the non-ornithological
public.