291 



the Member who wishes to keep a bird must indeed 

 be dull if he or she cannot understand practically any 

 species taken up. 



Itbe Concavc:*ca6quc() Ibornbtll. 



Dichoceros bicornis. 

 By C. Castlk-Si^gane, F.Z.S. 



I was so pleased with the tameness and affection- 

 ate nature of my Black Hornbill that I determined to 

 purchase others when the chance came. It was not 

 ver}^ long before I received a wire something to the 

 following effect: "Pair of monster hornbills from 

 India, shall I send ? " After debating as to whether 

 I would purchase or not, and although advised not to 

 buy, I wired " Send," and thus became the owner of 

 a pair of Concave-casqued Hornbills. 



Their plumage is mostly black, relieved by a 

 broad yellow collar and about mid-way on their wings 

 by a bar of white. Both these birds were fairly tame, 

 and I was hoping they would become as tame as 

 the black one, when unfortunately one of them died. 

 This one was the tamer of the two, and would come 

 hopping from perch to perch to be fed with a banana. 

 It was very funny to see how, when the two were sitting 

 on the perch, one would look at the other and hop over 

 him, coming down plump on the other side. After 

 doing this they would then open their bills very wide 

 and catch each other by one of the mandibles with a 

 loud croak of satisfaction. 



These birds are fond of mice, swallowing them 

 whole when thrown to them. (I offered one to the 



