210 BIRDS OF DAMARA LAND. 



254. Tockus flavirostris, Riipp. YeUow-biUed Hombill. 

 Buceros fla Lnrodrk, Riippell, Neue AVirbelth. pi. 2. fig. 1, 

 Toccus clegans, Hartlaub, in Proc. Zool. Soc. 18G5, pi. 4. 

 Bucer OS flavirostris, Chapman's Travels in S. Afr., App. p, 405. 

 „ „ Finscli & Ilartlaub's Vogel Ost-AMka's, p. 490. 



,, „ Finscb, in Trans. Zool. Soc. vol. vii. p. 279. 



Tockus flavirostris, Sharjje's Cat. No. 77. 



This species is the most common of the Hornbills in 

 the middle and southern parts of Damara Land. It is 

 found singly or in pairs, and, being a comparatively 

 fearless bird, is easily killed, especially during the heat 

 of the day, when it invariably perches on or near the 

 top of a lofty tree (where such are to be found), and 

 will remain for hours in this situation, keeping up, with 

 short intermissions, a kind of subdued chattering note 

 of Toe Toe Toe Tocke Tocke Tocke Toe, in a tone not 

 unlike the quick yelpings of young puppies, and ac- 

 companied at intervals by a flapping and raising of 

 its wings and an alternate lowering and erecting of its 

 head. 



There is a considerable difference in the size of adult 

 birds of this species. 



The irides are yellow ; the legs and toes are very 

 dark brown ; the colour of the bill approaches orange- 

 yellow, with the exception of the edges, upper ridge, 

 and the tips of the mandibles, which are reddish 

 brown ; in the young bird the bill is sometimes very 

 dark-coloured. 



