THE CLOWNS OF THE FOREST 91 



leopard, a pied hornbill alighted on the tree in which I 

 was hidden. After having screamed a short solo, he 

 caught sight of me, and although he was within three 

 yards of my machan he did not fly off in alarm, but 

 just cocked his head on one side and winked at me in 

 the most familiar manner. I was not surprised ; nothing 

 done by a hornbill could ever surprise me. 



When coolies are beating the jungle for game the 

 hornbills of the neighbourhood usually follow the line, 

 passing from branch to branch overhead, apparently 

 enjoying the fun. These facts seem to negative the 

 idea that the birds are shy. 



The flight of the hornbill is characteristic. It consists 

 of one or two rapid flaps of the wings, followed by a 

 bout of sailing, with the wings expanded and motionless. 

 Thus the line of flight is composed of a series of undu- 

 lations. 



Hornbills seem to be gregarious birds. They buffoon 

 through life in little companies of six or seven. Fifteen 

 species of these weird creatures are to be found in the 

 Indian region. Of these, three patronize the " Bombay 

 side." 



