tion. LiniiiCns also refers to Brisson's Jli/clrocoi-aj: j^Mlippansis, 'Ornith.' vol. iv. p. 568. Of this bird
Brisson expressly states that ho had only seen the head and the Ull, which undoubtedly, from his
description, hclonged to the liird represented on the opposite plate. Where he got his idea of the
plumage of the body is not stated i but tho head was in the cabinct of M. dc Kiaumur. Linnmus,
in his description of the plumage, followed Brisson in a great measure, and evidently eonfuscd two
species together; for the tail of his bird belongs either to the A. coronatm or A. convesim; it is
impossible to say which. As, however, both Willughby and Brisson, whom Linnzeus quotes, accnrately
describe the head of the present specics, tho only portion they were acquainted with, and
tlie fu-.st-named also figures it, there can be no doubt as to which bird linnmus applied the term
hkoniis ; and his diagnosis, " B. fronte ossea plana antrorsum bicorni," can only he intended for the
spodcs now under consideration, as there is no other nornWll known for which this description
wonld answer. There is a great difference observable in the form of the casques of individuals, the
anterior margin in some assuming the shape of a semicircle, while in others it is almost flat.
Those peculiarities arc found to exist among specimens from aU localities, and do not indicate separate
spocies. Tho Sikhim birds, as stated by Mr. Ilame, are apparently somewhat larger than
those from Kortliorn Tcnasserim; but some from South Tenasserim equal in size the Sikhim ones,
and there is nothing to indieate two specics.
I have been unable to distinguish any dUtcrencos between tho Indian and Malayan forms of
this bird, sufttcient to constitute them distinet, and have therefore placed Mr. Hodgson's B.
liomrai among the synonyms of "D. bioornis.
This fine species, with one oieeption tho largest of the family, has quite a wide range. Indeed,
how extensive tliis is wo do not exactly know, for it may be an inmate of tho groat forests
that stretch away into China. Being met with generally throughout India, its habits have been observed
by many of tho oxecllcnt naturalists of that country, and consequently we are pretty
familiar with its mode of life.
I t is a forost-loving bird, and is usually found on tho mountain-ranges at a height of from
3000 to 6000 feet. Accordmg to Hodgson, it is also mot with upon the lower ranges of hills near
the plains, preferring the open and cultivated spots in tho wilds it inhabits, which places are
usually restricted to tho bants of tho rivers. It is gregarious, twenty or thirty individuals, as
statcd'by Hodgson, being commonly found in the same vicinity, six or seven on one tree, although
•lordon says he novor saw more than five or six together, either in Southern India or the Sikhim
Himalayas, and there only rarely; while Mr. BourdiUon states that three are tiie greatest number
ho has seen at one time in tho Travanoero hills ; and Mr. Oates gives five or six as tho number in
a flock in the Evergreen I'orests in Upper I'cgu, where it is a common bird, but extremely wary and
dilEcult to approacli, keeping in tho highest branches. They will remain perchod for hom-s, almost
motionless, uttering at intervals a low croak as though conversing with each other.
Usually it is rather a silent bird, but wlien wounded or taken captive, it utters the most extraordinary
sounds imaginable. The voiee is very harsh and grating, and the noise it makes is
eomparcd bv ITallaci to something hot» eon the bray of ajaekass and the shriek of a locomotive,
and is not to be surpassed probably, in power, by any sound that an animal is capable of malmig.
Tiokcll says that its roar reechoes through tho liills to such a degree that it is difficult to assign
tlie noise to a bird, and WaUaoo states that this is kept up so continuously as to be absolutely unbearable.
He heard it plainly a mile away. The flight of this specics is heavy, and porfornied by
repeated flappings of its huge wings. It usually proceeds in a straiglit line, and sails only when
about to alight upon some troo. The strokes are made with groat force, and the noise of its wings
can he heard for more than u mile. As a rulo the food of this irornbill is strictly fruits—certainly
so, says Hodgson, at certain seasons, us in the months of January and February, M-hen he found
the stomachs contained nothing but the fruit of the Pipal tree. Tickell states tliat it cats lizards
readily, not only from the hand, but will search for them and seize tliem. With this exception,
authors generally agree in regarding fruit as the sole food of this bird.
I t breeds in the holes of large trees, and, like the other members of this Family, the male
plasters the female in, and never allows her to leave the nest until incubation is accompHsiied,
keeping her well supplied with food in tbc meanwhile. The egg, as described ))y Tiekoll, is a dii-ty
yellowish brownish white, spindle-shaped or pointed at both ends, and of a coarse surface, indenti'd
with numerous pores. Longitudinal and transverse axis 2}-^" and respectively.
" The newly hatched young," says Wallace, " is as largo as a pigeon, destitute of plumage, exceedingly
plump and soft, with a semitransparent skin, so that it looks more like a bag of jelly
with head and feet stuck on than a real bird. Frequently the wing-spots, rump, nuchal crest, and
pai-ts of the bill are stained yellow. This colour comes from a bundle of stiff feathers protruding
from the sac at the root of the tail, which exudes an oily secretion, with which the bird dresses
its plumage." "When fii-st shot," says Blyth, "tliis colour comes off the l/Ul in considerable
quantities, and the yellow substance continues to exude from the brush long after the specimen is
prepared and dry." Mr. Oates states, in ' Stray Feathers' (1875) p. 55, in reference to this
colouring-matter on the plumage, that he does not think the " yellow on the iicad and neck is entirely
due to the secretion of the uropygial gland. It does not come off in any quantity when the
bird is killed." Mr. Inglis, who met with this species in Cachar, states that in the dry weather
they are continually migrating to the south, and, during the rains, to the Tiorth. They go mostly
in flocks of five and seven, but sometimes thirty are seen together. A windy day is the best for
shooting them, and they afford "splendid eating, far superior to any fowl or pheasant." Among
the inhabitants of the forest, this bird is stated to be saercd to Vishnu, and the Nepaulcse namefor
this species, "Homrai, " is derived from the notes it is accustomed to utter.
Male.—Bill much curved, ilaxilla yellow, reddish towards the tip; mandible ivory-white in
adults, the base of both black. Casque very broad, flat, extendmg backwards over the head for
about half the length of the bill, and descending to the maxilla at a right angle. Posterior termination
black, its upper edge reddish ; anterior edge black, this colour reaching to the bill and continuing
along the culmen to the point, llest of casque waxen-yellow. Cutting-edges of bill also
black. Ilead and base of bill black, as arc also the back, breast, and abdomen. Occiput, nock,
thighs and tips of upper tail-coverts, crissum, and under taiL-coverts white. Wings black, with
the ends of the greater coverts, secondaries, primaries, and a spot on these last, about halfway
It''