MUSOPHAGIDJ^. 205 



extraordinary and almost human cry with which it fre- 

 quently startles the traveller who is passing near its 

 perch. It is sometimes very easy to approach these 

 birds, whilst at other times they are so shy that they 

 will defy the utmost exertions which may be made to 

 obtain them. 



On January 5th, 1867, I obtained three eggs of this 

 species, of a dull bluish-white colour, at Omapju, from a 

 boy, who told me that the nest which contained them 

 was composed of sticks roughly put together, and situ- 

 ated in a tree at some distance from the ground ; and 

 on March 1st I met with a nest in Ondonga placed in 

 a tree, but at no great elevation, which also contained 

 three eggs, but much incubated. 



The iris is brown, the legs are purplish black. 



Measurements of a male : — 



in. lin. 



Entire length 19 2 



Length of folded wing 8 5 



„ tarsus 18 



„ middle toe 16 



„ tail 9 9 



„ bill 12 



I think I have seen another species of this genus to 

 the north of Damara Land, in Ondonga, and near the 

 river Okavango. 



BUCEROTID^. 



250. Bucorvns abyssmicus (Gmcl.). Ground-HornbiU. 



Le Calm caronnde, Levaillant's Ois. d'Afr. pis. 230, 231, 232. 

 Bucorvufi ahyssinicus, Layard's Cat. No. 458. 



