P. torquatus differs from all the other species of the genus Pogonorhynchus, except
P. abyssinicus and P . melanopterus, by its red head and throat; it is most nearly allied to
the former, which differs from it in having a black back and abdomen; the latter is a
yellow-billed species, and belongs to a separate subgroup.
According to Temminck the Black-collared Barbet was first sent home by Burchell
during his travels in Central Africa; it has since been sent by Lalande from the Cape of
Good Hope. It is 7 inches long, and its feet and bill are black.
Mr. G. B. Gray, in his ' Catalogue of the Capitonidae' in the British Museum, refers
Le Vaillant's pi. 28 of the ' Histoire Nat. des Oiseaux de Paradis' to this bird; but in that
he is mistaken. Le Vaillant's bird comes from America, and has the margin of the upper
mandible smooth; Le Vaillant's figure seems to have been taken from a made-up specimen,
as there is no species with which we are able to identify it.
Mr. Kirk, in a paper on the birds of Zambesi in the ' I b i s ' (I. c), mentions that
P. torquatus is common in the open valleys, and is found principally on the fig-trees. It
breeds in hollow trees (Layard).
Mr. J. H. Gumey, on the Birds of Natal (I. c), gives the following account of its
habits, on t h e authority of Mr. Ayres:—
" T h e i r food 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. They are tolerably plentiful within a range of
fifteen miles from the coast."
The specimen brought from Urazano by Capt. Speke was marked, " found among the
upper branches of the highest trees."
The description and Plate are taken from specimens lent to us by Mr. T. C. Eyton.
Temminck's is the only other figure of this bird of which we are aware.