Ornithology of the Gold Coast. 51 



dry ground, perching on a stick or dead bough, and occa- 

 sionally sallying forth at any passing prey. 



33. BucEROs ATRATus, Temm. : Sharpe, p. 8. 



This bird has only reached me from Denkera, whence it 

 was brought by Aubinn. I have never seen them in confine- 

 ment or otherwise ; and they seem to be somewhat rarer than 

 B. elatus. Doubtless the two species assimilate in habits. 



34. BucEROs cYLiNDRicus, Tcmm. : Sharpe, Ibis, 1872, 

 p. 67. 



This is apparently the rarest of the Hornbills in Fantee, 

 and I have only succeeded in obtaining a single specimen. 



35. BucEROs FisTULATOR, Cass. : Sharpe, p. 8. 



Not rare in Fantee, where it is sometimes seen in flocks. 



36. BucEROs ELATUS, Tcmm. : Sharpe, Ibis, 1872, p. 67. 

 Three specimens were brought by Aubinn from Denkera, 



a male and two females. Of their habits personally I know 

 nothing ; I had, however, the opportunity of observing two 

 females in confinement in a small garden at Cape Coast. 

 They appear very sluggish in their disposition, and will readily 

 accept food of all kinds, which they swallow apparently entire, 

 remaining motionless as before on their perch. "When on the 

 ground they progress with difficulty, in awkAvard and ungainly 

 hops ; on trees, however, they appear to be more active. Fi'om 

 what the natives tell me, they are looked upon as useful 

 scavengers ; and one species, which I suspect to be Bucorax 

 abyssinicus, is considered /e^?sA, or sacred, by the inhabitants 

 of the Accra districts, doubtless from his habit of destroying 

 noxious reptiles. The bare skin on the fro at of the neck and 

 throat is light blue-grey in the living bird. 



37. Irrisor castaneiceps, Sharpe, Ibis, 1871, p. 414. 

 Mr. Sharpe described this species from a specimen which 



I sent him. It was brought to me by Aubinn fi-om Denkera, 

 where he informs me that it is very rare, being not nearly so 

 plentiful as /. bollei. 



38. TuRACUS CRISTATUS (V.) : Sharpe, p. 10. 



This fine bird is distributed all over the Gold Coast. I 



E 2 



