THE CPOW TRIBE IN GENERAL. ^^ 



on the trunk, and the entrance to it is always on the east sida 

 They sometimes have as many as eighitcn young ones. 



These birds, in general, only run along the ground ; but, being of 

 a distrustful disposition, they are soon raised by alarm, when they 

 usually fly to a great distance, before they again alight. Their food 

 consists principally of insects and Lizzards. The male and female are 

 always to be seen in company ; or sometimes there are two females to 

 one male, but never more. The Negroes esteem this Hornbill sacred, 

 Qever killing it themselves, and always, if possible, preventing the 

 Europeans from firing at it. They have a superstition that the death 

 of one of these birds gives cold to the whole district, M. Geoflfroy, 

 who examined several of them, was observed to kill one : they re- 

 proached him with the utmost severity, and every one present put hia 

 nose to the excrescence on the bill, in order to secure himself from the 

 injurious consequences which he imagined would attend its death. 



The Rhinoceros Hornbill. — The protuberance of the beak of the 

 Rhinoceros Hornbill is so large, and so much recurved, as to appear 

 rather an enormous deformity, than a natural production. Qliis bird 

 is somewhat smaller than a Turkey, and of a black color, except the 

 tail, which is white, and marked with a bar of black. The beak is 

 nearly a foot long, and of a pale yellow color. 



These birds which are found in Sumatra and several other parts 

 of the east, feed on flesh and carrion. They are said to follow the 

 hunters, for the purpose of feeding on the entrails of the beasts that 

 are killed. We are told also that they chase rats and mice, and after 

 pressing them flat with their bill, in a peculiar manner, toss them up 

 into the air, and swallow them whole immediately on their descent. 



OF THE CROW TRIBE IN GENERAL. 



These birds have a strong bill ; with the upper mandible a little 

 bent, the edges sharp, and, in general, a small notch near the tip. 

 The nostrils are covered with bristles reflected over them ; and the 

 tongue is divided at the end. The toes are placed three forward, and 

 one backward ; and the middle toe is united to the outer one as far 

 as the first joint. 



Few animals are more generally dispersed over the world than the 

 lifferent species of Crow ; some of them being found in almost every 

 climate. They are prolific, clamorous, and usually associate in flocks. 

 Most of them make their nests in trees, and the number of young-ones 

 which they produce is five or six. They feed promiscuously on 

 animal and vegetable substances. Some of the species, when in great 

 numbers, are supposed to be injurious to man, by devouring grain ; 

 but they make amends for this injury, by the immense quantities of 

 noxious insects and other vermin which thev destroy. 

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