Nesting Habits of Trumpeter 2 1 7 



THE NESTING HABITS OF THE 

 TRUMPETER HORNBILL. 



Bycanistes hucinator^ (Temm.). 

 By A. Graham Millar. 



Although this bird is common in the Karkloof District of 

 Natal, especially in the vicinity of the Falls, and I was on the 

 lookout for its nest, it was by mere chance that I came upon two 

 separate birds making initial preparations towards nesting during 

 October, 1913. In both instances, male birds had returned to 

 the nesting sites of the previous year, and were busily engaged in 

 breaking away the plaster, which had served to conceal the nest 

 and prevent its occupation by other creatures during the interval. 

 Having opened the nests in this manner, they proceeded to throw 

 out the dried seeds of berries and other accumulated deposits 

 which had formed the lining the year before. 



A week later, I again visited the nests and carefully watched 

 the birds* habits. The hen bird, in each instance, was then in- 

 side the nest, a natural hollow in a tall tree, some 20 or 30 ft. from 

 the ground, and the male bird constantly plied to and from the 

 nest bringing large pieces of mud or clay to form the foundations 

 of the partition, which would, when completed, serve to enclose the 

 hen bird while sitting on the eggs. The mud brought by the male 

 bird was given to the hen who did most of the plastering from 

 within with her bill. The partition was made to gradually taper in 

 thickness towards the centre, where a long slit-like aperture was 

 left — sufficiently large to enable the hen bird when sitting to pro- 

 ject her bill through and receive food from her mate. The edge of 

 the plaster surrounding the aperture, i.e. the thinnest part of the 

 partition, was made entirely of the birds* excrement, which con- 

 sisted very largely of the remains of black millipedes and beetles. 



