Scblegel, rare in Sennaar. Layard {fide B. of S. Africa) gires it as found in tlie Cape colony.
Tho B. cafcr (Sclilegel) inhabits Caffraria; and, as given by Prof. Bocage (if tbe name has not
been transposed), the same bird, callod by him gimieensis, was procured on the coast of Guinea,
tlius making it range across the continent. If these birds are distinct, we have an extraordmary
geographical distribution for continental forms, as B. abyssiniotis of Abyssinia is thus out oiT from
its relatives in South Africa by B. cafer, which crosses the continent in the region of the Limpopo
river and Kamaralaud. If the distribution of the forms as here given is correct, I shall not he
able to reconcile myself to the belief that there are three distinct species of this bird until more
information is obtained respecting them, and the boundaries of each one' arc definitely fixed; for
it would seem at least strange that on a continent one species should inhabit the northern and
soutiiern portions, and the central part be occupied by a totally difi'erent species, and yet each keep
their respective characters intact; for there must of necessity be many points where individuals of
the two forms would meet and, in such closely allied birds as these under consideration might not
unnaturally interbreed. A possible solution of the difiiculty may be, that Layard did not describe
his B. abi/ssiidcus from a Souih-Afnoan specimen, as he states he never succeeded in getting one
M-hile there, supposing, lik<! most autliors, that there was only one species, and that Prof. Bocage's
B. cafer, in his paper in the 'Proceedings' of the Zoological Society, was really intended for
B. guineensis. In such a case, we should have the range of the forms as follows -.—B. ahjssinicii.s
from East Africa, Abyssinia, and Sennaar; B. guineensis from Aera, West Africa; and B. cafer
from all the region south of and including Daniaraland and the Zambesi district. I have not
been able to examine an authentic adult South-African specimen.
I have found some considerable difficulty in working out the synonymy of the three forms as
presented here, because of course I have not had access to the specimens mentioned by thevai-ious
writers; but I believe that, in the main, they will be found to be tolerably correct.
The Ground-Ilornbill, although a frequenter of plains, is also a mountain-loving species, and
has been met with at a considerable height above the sea; for, as stated by Blanford in bis
' Zoology of Abyssinia,' it is chiefly found in that country at an elevation of from 4000-5000 feet,
although also mot with lower down, ilonteiro, who procured the bird in Angola, states it to be
everywhere present in that land, but more abundant in tlie interior, and very common on tlie
mountain-range where Pungo Andongo is situated. Por some unexplained reason, this species is
an object of superstitious dread to the natives of the various countries it inhabits. Monteiro was
uuablo to induce them to attempt its capture; and on Andorsson's asking a chief in Ondonga to
get him the eggs, he received the reply that it was not to be done, as they wore soft to tlie touch
Ind would break in pieces on the least handling. Tlie Puigoes, says Layard, object to shoot them,
lest they should lose their cattle by disease.
The food of this Ilornbill appears to consist of almost any thing edible that falls in its way.
In Abyssinia Blanford found it to be almost entirely insectivorous, the stomachs of those he
examined containing chicfiy large beetles and locusts, in one instance the remains of scorpions
and largo spiders. In a certain case, however, he found fragments of bones, apparently of a
tortoise." Once he observed this bird near some inule-carcasscs, but not feeding on them, so far
as ho could see. In Angola, Jlonteiro found them to be omnivorous, feeding upon reptiles.
repeated until thoir enemy i. dead. Sheuld the reptile attaek them, « - i » ^
completely eo.ering their- head, and other vulnerable parts. Two or ^
tortoises tre^uentiug the distriet of tho Limpopo rwer are oaten by tlus Uornba - ™ ^
peeks out every portion ot flesh from the shell, leaving it qmte elean, even eahng the legs ^
L a d of the unfortunate oreatur-e. Aeeording to layard, this speo.es ioeds on earnon; and lu, r
bodies emit suoh a steneh in eonseqaenoo that ho never eould iuduee any of lus eorrespondents
to send him one. • They also devour great quantities of grubs and loeusts. Ihe mght is beavj,
rather feeble, and somewhat noisy, and rarely prolonged for more than halt a nulo Ihe vo.ce
of this bird is an erfraordinary one, very deep and powerful, composed, aeeordmg to Blauloul
of two notes-one, uttered ehiefly ou the ground, resembling the syllables Imm-Jmm, the first
hio-her and Ion™- than tho last The second note ivas a peculiar booming sound, so much like
the roar ot the Uon that it ,vas with difheulty the two could be distinguished apart. They utter
this noise both »-hen on the ground and ou the trees, and it can be heard for a considerable
distance, particularly at night. Ayres compares the notes to the syllables oo,-coo, and says that
ho has heard it at a distance of nearly two miles. The oall of the female is similar to that of Uic
male, but pitehed a note or two higher. The male always calls first, the female immediately
answering; and this is continued at intervals while they are feeding.
Thc°Gronnd-lIotnbill is gregarious, going in flocks ot from five or six individuals up to one
or two hundred, as stated by llonteiro. They are usually very shy and wild, and when alarmed
ily to the nearest trees, choosing those with the densest foliage, where they squat on the branche.s
or stand upright, quite motionless, with open hills. As soon as the object ot their fears is
discovered, the usual cry is uttered by one of them, and all ily away to another tree. When
on the ground, and the grass is short, it is almost impossible to approach them. At a distance
they greatly resemble tm-keys; and the males have the habit of raising, then opening, and closing
their tails exactly like those birds; the red wattle on the neck is also inilated, and becomes very
conspicuous. Although this species walks well, its gait is awkward, and it presents a curious
appearance as it goes slowly along, looking for food, turning over lumps of earth in search of
insects, or poking its bill at any frog or other reptile that it may meet. While the ground is the
chief resort of this species, over which Audersson says he has seen individuals running at a great
rate, yet at night it is accustomed invariably to resort to the trees to roost. This species does not,
I believe, incubate in the holes of trees, like other members of this family, but, according to
ilonteiro, the nest is built on the very highest Adansoiiiai, in the hollow or cavity formed at the
base or junction of the branches.