293 



-growth on the beak; and the whole bill in them is 

 smaller than in adults. 



The Hornbills fall into two groups, the Ground 

 Hornbills and the Tree Hornbills; the former, of 

 which there are only two species, are confined to Africa. 

 These are both large birds about the size of Turkeys. 

 These are ground-birds and animal feeders, walking 

 about in search of such prey as snakes and other 

 reptiles and insects. They roost, however, on trees, 

 and build their nests there, making them of sticks 

 in quite an ordinary way." 



ZTbe (Trows of tbe fen (Tountrv. 



By C. H. C. PENGEI.T.EY. 



The crowfamily is well represented in the country 

 lying along the Great Ouse, where this river enters the 

 fen lands, by the following five species, viz., the 

 Carrion Crow, the Rook, the Hooded or Royston Crow, 

 the Jackdaw and the Magpie, and as regards the first 

 on the list, it would probably be very difficult to find 

 a place where it exists in greater numbers. 



It may be seen everywhere either singly or in 

 pairs, and one of the com!uonest sounds is its hoarse 

 " kraa" " kraa " as it flaps along, ever on the look out 

 for something with which to fill its omnivorous maw. 

 Nothing comes amiss to this English vulture. Any 

 fish he finds on the bank is soon reduced to a few 

 scales and clean picked bones, and I have seen him 

 help himself to fish lying in an empty punt quite close 

 to houses when no one was about. Dead birds, rats, 

 mice, etc., are also included in his diet. 



All day scanning the country for food he retires at 



