" Like Formosa, Hainan lias also its peculiar species of Barbet; and from the almost
" identical colouring of the under parts, and the similarity of build and stature in the two
" birds, one must necessarily come to the conclusion that the one has been derived from the
' ; other, or that both are of common lineage. From its loud peculiar call, the Hainan
" species has earned among the natives of the island the appellation of 'Ironsmith,' whence
" I have derived its specific name (the ' Ironsmith,' so called because its voice sounds like
" hammering the metal—Kiuna-Shan-Heen-che). Among the woods of the interior I often
" saw this bird either singly or in small parties. It is a stupid heavy species, keeping much
" t o t h e upper boughs of umbrageous trees, especially those of the fig groiq), of which there
" are a good many kinds in Hainan. It sits silent among the leaves munching the figs, and
" you may be under a tree a long time without knowing that a p a r t y of Barbets are over-
" head except from the constant falling of berries. On staring up into the tree it was often
'• difficult to make them out on account of their resemblance in colour to the foliage. When
" roused they hop clumsily from twig t o twig, sometimes giving utterance t o a short faint
" note. In flying they hold the head with the heavy bill well up, the body and tail inclining
l i downwards, while the wings keep on a continued fluttering and propel the bird in a
" straight direction."
This bird was figured for t h e first time in the Ibis for this year. Our plate is taken
from a specimen in^our collection, which we obtained through the kindness of Mr. Swinhoe,
the only gentleman who has brought this species to England. It represents an adult bird,
life size.