THE ABYSSINIAN HOIIMIH.I.. 27fl 



to recline on its slioiildcrs ; wh(>n niolcsled, it swelled, and raised itself with an air of 

 boldness, but its general gait was dnll and beavy. Ft swallowed raw flesb, and would 

 also eat lettnces, which it first bruised with its bill. It caught rats, and devoured a 

 small bird that was thrown to it alive. Its ordinary vciice was a short hoarse croak ; 

 and it likewise uttered at intervals a sound exacth' similar to the clucking of a hen. It 

 was fond of warmth, spread its wings to the sun, and shivered at a passing cloud or gale. 

 It lived only three months, dying before the end of the summer. 



TUK ^■IOLACEOUs Houxmu..* 



This bird is of a violaceous black ; the sides of the wing and tail-feathers are white ; 

 the bill is whitish ; the casque is compi-essed, obtuse in front, and marked by a black 

 spot. It nearly resembles the unicorn species, but is of a smaller size. When viewed in 

 a fidl light, it is very richly glossed with violet, green, and purple reflexions, though 

 ■when viewed in the shade it appears of a greenish -black. It is a native of Ceylon. 

 Le Yaillant mentions, that he saw one which had been brought to the Cape of Good Hope. 

 It showed much attachment and docility to its keeper, was fed with meat either raw or 

 dressed, and with various kinds of vegetables. It pursued, and readily caught, both rats 

 and mice, which it swallowed entire, after having rubbed them in its bill. Whenever a 

 quarrel arose among other birds, it immediate!}^ ran to them, and by the strokes 

 of its bill enforced a su.spension of hostilities. It even kept the larger birds in 

 awe, and would make an ostrich fake to its heels, pursuing it half fl.ying and half 

 running. It imposed, in short, on the whole menagerie, more, we may presimie, by the 

 size of its enormous bill than by any intrinsic strength or courage. 



THF ABYSS;NIAN HORNBUX.t 



This bird is black, with white primary quills, the secondaries ferruginous ; the bill is 

 black, and casque abruptly orbicular. According to Mr. Bruce, who has distinctly 

 described this species, it is of a blackish fuliginous hue, measuring three feet ten inches 

 in length, and six feet in extent of \ving. On the neck are several ^protuberances, as in 

 the tm-key, of a light blue, changing on various occasions to red. It is found in 

 Abyssinia, generally among the fields of tafl', feeding on the green beetles that frequent 

 that plant. As it has a fetid smell, it has been erroneously supposed to subsist on carrion. 

 It usually runs on the groimd, and does not hop like most of its congeners ; but, when 

 raised, it flies both strong and far. It is supposed to be very prolific, as it has been seen 

 with eighteen young ones attending it. It builds in large thick trees, making a curious 

 nest Like that of the magpie, but four times larger than that of the eagle, placed firm on 

 the trunk at no great distance from the ground, and with the entrance always on the east 

 side. The young, according to Le Vaillant, are of a brownish-black colour, with the larger 

 wing-feathers rufous-white ; and such seems to have been the specimen described by 

 Buffbn. 



Of the species which want the horn-like appendage we shall notice only one. 



' B. ViolaocUs. — Lc \'ail. ■!- B. Abyssinicus. — Lath. 



