ME GAL ALMA NUCHALIS
M E G A L i E M A N U C H A L I S.
( T H E EMBROIDERED BARBET.)
Megaloema nuchalis
Megaloema calanchima
(1862) Gould, P.Z.S. p. 283.
(1863) Swinhoe, Ibis, p. 387.
(1870) Swinhoe, Ibis, p. 97 and plate IV. fig. 2.
(1864) Gould, B. of Asia, pi. 10.
(1863) Goffin, Mus. Pays Bas, Bucc. 94.
NATIVE NAME.
IIuii-Kxca-cheow . . . Swinhoe.
M. sexibus sirnilibus: viridis : gutture aurantiaco : fronte nitenti viridiscenti-luteo : occipite eyaneo.
Hah. in insula " Formosa '' dicta.
Adult. Male. Sexes alike; body green ; forehead and top of the head light shining
greenish yellow ; occiput and sides of the neck blue, the feathers of nape mixed green,
blue, and red ; a spot in front of the eye, and some of the feathers on the upper back,
scarlet; quills brown, inner web at base and exterior edge of the primaries yellowish white :
rest of the upper plumage rich dark green; cheeks and ear-coverts bright blue ; chin,
throat, and a spot at the base of the lower mandible golden yellow, followed by a broad
band of blue joining the blue of the cheeks ; below this is a large Vermillion spot on the
upper breast; under surface bright grass green ; bill horny black, shading into sulphur
\-ellow at the base of both mandibles; rictal bristles strongly developed; irides reddish
brown ; legs and feet olive black ; length 7 J, bill 1^-, wing 4 | , tail 4 | , tarsus 1 " .
Young. According to Swinhoe, the young bird has no tinge of blue on the wings ;
the back is duller green and devoid of the yellow wash, and the live-tipped feathers at the
Additional references.—Megalcema nuchalis: Swinhoe, P. Z. S. p. 333 (1863); Gould, rbis, p. 387 (1863), et
Ibis, p. 220, note (1865) ; Swinhoe, Ibis, p. 545 (1865); Swinhoe, Ibis, pp. 296—401 (1866).