P lace and
JMa nne r s .
'broad at the middle; the upper one is three inches deep, and fur-
nifhed with an helmet on the top, which is a fpan in length, almoft
three inches broad, and flat on the top: the tongue fmall for fo
large a bill, being fcarcely an inch long : the head itfelf is fmall,
and as far as the eyes black : the pupil blue; the irides white ;
and each eye-lid befet with black briftles, the length of which is
equal to the breadth of the little finger : the head and neck are
rufous : the belly Black: back and rump brownilh alh: the
thighs and legs together are nine inches long, and yellowiih: the
tail feathers are only eight* in number, a cubit in length, and
white: the greater quills are fifteen or feventeen in number,
almoft a foot and a half long, and of a fulvous colour : the
toes are fquammofe, of a reddilh colour: the claws are black.
This bird inhabits the Philippine JJlands, and has a cry more
like that of a hog or a calf, than of a bird. The Gentoos rank it
among their Gods, and pay worlhip to it. It lives altogether in
woods, feeding on fruits, fuch as the Indian fig, alfo piftachios,
&c. which it fwallows wholes and after the external parts have
been digefted, it brings up the nuts again whole, without the
kernels being any wife damaged, or unfit for vegetation.
Fearful of multiplying fpecies, I have ventured to place thefe
two as varieties only, or at leaft as fexual differences, till a
better acquaintance with them fhall clear up the doubt. Buffon
is of opinion that they are varieties only, which indeed is very
probable, fince the fame fpot of the' globe produces both of
them.
* No doubt it had Ipft two, at no bird has lefs than ten in number.
Ls
Le Calao d'Abyflinie, Buf. otf. vii. p, tyy.
Grand Calao d’A byflinie, PI, enl. yyq,
X m s is among the largeft of the genus : in fhape it moft re-
fembles a Raven, but is larger and thicker: the length three
feet two inches.. The bill is nine inches- in length, (lightly
bent the whole length, and compreffed on the fides; both mandibles
are channelled on the infides, and blunt at the tips;
on the top of the upper, at the bafe, is a prominence o f a femicir-
cular fhape, two inches and a half in diameter, and fifteen lines
broad at the bafe, which is over the eyes:-'this excrefcence is of
the fame fubftance with the bill, but fo very thin, as to eafily give
way to the preffure of the fingers: the height of the bill, with
the additional horn, meafures vertically almoft three inches and
three quarters: on each fide of the upper mandible, near the bafe,
is a reddilh. fpace; and a naked violet brown fkin encircles the
eyes, and covers the throat, and fome of the fore part of the
neck.
The colour of the plumage is wholly black, except the greater
quills, which are white : the fecondaries and part of the wing coverts
are of a deep tawny brown : the legs are five’ inches and a
half long : the' middle toe, with the claws, is twenty-eight lines
long; the three forward ones nearly equal in length; the hind
one alfo pretty long, being two inches; all of them are thick
and flout, and covered, as well as the-legs, with blackifh. fcales :
the claws are ftrong, but not bent, nor lharp.
This inhabits AbyJJjnia,*..
Le
* r Have fome fufpicion, that the “ certain black birds,” mentioned by
M. Adanfon, may prove the above. He fays, “ they were fo like, a Turkey,
'^ y 2 both
4-
ABYSSINIAN
H.
D e s c r i p t io n.
B i l l ,
P l uma g e ,
P l a c e .