248 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



Thick-Billed Lark.— This species is suflBciently charac- 

 terised by mentioning its bill. 



Wiiite-Headed Bullfinch Lark is distinguished by its 

 large white head, and rather compact form. Neither of the 

 above can be mentioned in the same breath with their 

 European congener, as far as their musical abilities are con- 

 cerned. 



THE HORNBILLS. 



These curious creatures, with which we have already 

 made acquaintance in India, have their headquarters in 

 Africa, where numerous species are found, from among 

 which we select the following for description : — 



Fam i 1 y — BuccrotidcB. 

 Genus — 



1. Biicorvus. B. abyssinicus. Ground Hornbill. 



2. Ecratogyjnua. C. data. Elate Hornbill. 

 W. Spliagolobus. S. atratiis. Black Hornbill. 



4. Psycanistcs. P. subcyliiidriciis Sub-cylindrical 



Hornbill. 



5. Toccus. T. vielanoleucus. Black and White 



Hornbill. 



Abyssinian Ground Hornbill. — Although more com- 

 mon in Northern Africa, this extraordinary bird is found 

 as far south as Mozambique and Zanzibar. 



The colouring is as follows : General tint dusky black, 

 changing to whitish grey on the under parts; the head 

 and neck feathers are elongated and loose ; the tail is 

 whitish grey, crossed by a broad black band at its lower 

 third ; the huge bill is yellowish grey, with a red mark 

 at the base of the upper mandible ; the lower mandible 

 is dark horn-black, while the helmet is black and white. 

 The bill measures 10 inches in length; at first it is com- 



