22 Mr. G. L. Bates — Field- Notes on the 



their nests and eggs here. Of no bird around Bitye is it so 

 easy to find the nests (excepting, of course, those of the 

 common Weavers) as of the Nsesal. These nests are usually 

 set in the forks of thick bushes on waste ground or in the 

 borders of gardens. Tliey are merely thick flat pads of 

 fibrous material of various kinds, piled up with little skill, 

 but slightly hollowed out in the middle. A common material 

 is the grey beard-like Usnea from the limbs of old trees. 

 In the nest, among the eggs or the nestlings, are laid trashy 

 fragments of various kinds, generally bits of leaves, which are 

 sometimes still fresh and green ; but also pieces of bark, and 

 once I found a grain of corn. A nest that has long been in 

 use has more of this trash than a new one. 



The number of eggs laid is generally two, never more 

 than three. They vary in size from 20-23 mm. long by 

 16-175 mm. broad. 



[The ten cg:is examined are of a wide oval shape and 

 more or less pointed towards the smaller end. They are 

 pure white with a rather rough chalky surface entirely 

 devoid of gloss. — O.-G.] 



804. Ceratogymna ATRATA. [Ongung.] 

 No. 2545. S- Akok (between Efulen and Kribi). June 

 20, 1907. Stomach full of fruits of the Rattan Palm. 



No. 2(3()G. ^ . Akok, July 9, 1907. Crop and stomach 

 containing forest fruits. 



No. 2618. S ■ Akok, July 11, 1907. Testes very large. 

 No. 26'35. (S • Akok, July 16, 1907. Testes large. 

 No. 2659. ? . Akok, July 24, 1907. Small ova in the 

 ovary. Moulting. 



These big black Hornbills are birds of the forest, and 

 hence more often seen and heard in the dense forest near 

 the ccast than in the Ja district. Tlieir clamorous calls (or 

 squawks) and the rushing of their wings are familiar forest- 

 sounds, as are the similar noises of the Miam [Bycanistes 

 albotihialis), \\\nch have been already described (' Ibis,' 1905, 

 p. 90). Big and ugly though the birds are, they are very 

 amorous, and the harsh clamour that they make seems to be 

 the mating-call of the male. I have known a male " Ongung'' 



