278 THE FEATiiEnEn trtbes. 



inclies long- ami lour in widtli at the base, is divided into two portions by a longitudinal 

 black line. Though apparently a formidable weapon, this singular bill is by no means 

 so in reality ; for Le Yaillant assures us, that he often put his hand into it \\'ithout feeling 

 the slightest pain, though the bird exerted all its endeavours to wound him. The young 

 is destitute of the liorn-like excrescence on the bill. 



This species occurs in the Phillippine islands, in Java, Sumatra, and various countries 

 of India. The individuals belonging to it have a melancholy wild air, a heavy gait, hop 

 instead of walking, and are of a timid and stupid disposition. In a wild state they live 

 on flesh and carrion, and arc known to accompany the hunters of bears, wild cows, and 

 stags, to pick up the intestines, and other refuse of these animals, v^•hich are assigned to 

 them. In Sumatra, when kept in confinement, they are fed on rice and soft meats ; and 

 in various parts of India they are domesticated for the purpose of catching rats and 

 mice. When they have got one of the latter, they squeeze it in their -bill to soften it, 

 throw it up in the air, and then receive it entire into their capacious gullet. That 

 described bj- Le Yaillant never manifested anything like sprightliness, but when its food 

 f^'as presented, it advanced with extended wings, and uttered a slighl, scream of jo)\ It 

 was fed with biscuits steeped in water, flesh either raw or dressed, rice, &c. When 

 presented with some ncwh'-killed small birds, it readily swallowed them entire, after 

 bruising them for some time in its bill. 



THE CRESCENT HOKNRILT,.* 



Tliis hornbiU is black ; the tip of the tail is wliite ; tlie bill is yellowish, and the 

 casque is lunated upwards. It is about the size of the preceding bird, whicli it consider- 

 ably resembles ; but the casque of the biU is shaped like a crescent or boat, longitudinally 

 afiixed bj'' its bottom to the ridge of the upper mandible. It is not concave at the top, 

 but flattened, and the two ends rise up, the one before the other, behind the base of the 

 mandible ; that in. front somewhat exceeding the length of tlic otlior. It is a native of 

 Java, where it is said to frequent large woods, uniting in troojis, in order to devour 

 carrion. The female wants the patch of red-brown between the shoulders which 

 characterises the male, and is besides somewhat smaller tliau the latter. 



THE UNICORN HORNliII,L.+ 



This bird is sliglitly crested ; the abdomen is black, and the sides of the tail-feathers 

 white ; the bill is yellowish, with compressed casque, black above, and pointed in front. 

 The unicorn hornbill is about the size of a raven, and its outstrctclied wing measures 

 nearly three feet. The female is rather smaller than tlic niale, and has the casque less 

 elevated, and its point less prominent. 



• These birds frequent higli woods, perching on large trees, especially on the dead 

 boughs. They nestle in the hollows of decayed trimks, and lay about fom- eggs, of a 

 dirty wliitc. The young arc at first quite naked, and their bills have merel}' a slight 

 ridge, three or four lines high, and which is not cleaily defined till the space of three 

 months, wlien they take their flight, and the point does not project till they arc fully 

 grown and liavc assumed their mature plumage. This part, it lias been remarked, is 

 suljject to frequent accidents from striking against the branches of trees, when the bird 

 is endeavouring to dctacli tlic bark, in order to obtain tlic insects, small lizards, and 

 tree-frogs which lurk beneatli. The individual described by IJulfon hopped willi botli 

 fcei at once, forwards and sideways, like a miigi^ic or jay. AVlien at rest, its head seemed 



• 1',. Xit'CV. -Virlll. I 1!. AldllCMTVlW - SllMW. 1!. M:il.lli;liillls. I,:lll|. 



