THE OSPREY. 



83 



WILSON S SNIPE, FROM LIFE. 

 PHOTOGRAPH BV H. A. TAVERNIKR. TORONTO, CANADA. 



stopping to look one over with much curiosity, its were characteristic features of the landscape, and 



white eyes fairly shining with peculiar effect from were usually seen flying with repeated flappings and 



the midst of the metallic black-hued feathers that sailings, and when about to alight would lower their 



covered the head. A white band crossed the breast flight before reaching the desired tree and then rise 



separating the metallic feathers of the throat and the in a graceful curve to the selected perch, 



red of the breast, and was very conspicuous. In the family Upupidic, of which the Hoopoo is a 



Many other species there were of handsome plum- familiar representative, were two species which at 



age, and it was noticeable that in many instances times were eccentric to the verge of lunacy. One an 



the most opposite colors were brought together as if Irrisor, with a red bill, (not sufficiently civilized to 



to enhance the contrast and make it more startling have an English name, though Red billed Irrisor 



and conspicuous. Black and white was very common would do as well as anything,) a black bird with some 



varied at times with scarlet, while the many hues metallic gloss set off by the bright hued bill, and 



of metallic iridescence would be scattered amid rich which went in flocks. When flying they were gener- 



unchangeable colors, each bringing out the other to ally silent, but chattered vociferously as soon as they 



the greatest advantage. Many Sun-birds flitted among alighted, climbing among the branches and diligently 



the trees and bushes arrayed somewhat like our own seeking insects apparently, and while so engaged as- 



hummingbirds, but unlike them possessing both me- suming all manner of postures, the head being down 



tallic and non-metallic colors of the most brilliant as often as up and the back more frequently turned 



kinds. Some of these little gems had quite a sweet towards the ground than to the sky. The bill was 



song, and would frequently entertain us with trills slender and much curved and seemed well suited for 



and warbles in a low key that was very pleasing. prying amid the divisions of the bark of the trees 



.\mong the eccentric birds were the Hornbills, with they frequented. The other went by the name of 



their great unwieldy bills that made them appear top- ' Stinking Crow, ' but it was neither a crow, nor could 



heavy. There were two species that were seen every- I discover any particularly disagreeable odor about 



where, dressed in white and black, and which drew it. It was a handsome and graceful species and the 



attention to themselves by their loud harsh voices, noisiest bird in Somaliland, which is saying a good 



The bills, which were shaped like a sickle, were red deal. It had a long tail with a generally black plum- 



in one species and yellow in the others, yLophoceros age and metallic lustre on the head and throat, and 



rryt/iror/iviii/uis, Temm. and L. flavirostris. Rupp). white spots on wing and tail making it very conspic- 



The habits of these birds are very similar, and as is uous when flying. The species goes in flocks up to a 



well known, when the hen commences to incubate dozen individuals, and the variety of notes and vol- 



her eggs in the hole of some tree, the male bird ume of sound a flock can produce when the birds se- 



plasters up the entrance with mud, and keeps her a riously pay attention to the business requires to be 



prisoner until the young are well grown. These birds heard before their great ability to make a racket can 



