Birds from British East Africa. 513 



wlierever we went. We invariably saw large family parties 

 of from seven to twelve, and when disturbed the whole Hock 

 would fly out of a bush together. Three that were shot con- 

 tained small larvae and a beetle, which proves that they are not 

 entirely fruit-eaters as some writers have said. They roost, 

 anyhow occasionally, head downwards and always touchinj^ 

 each other. The Masai eat them and are very adept at 

 knocking them down with their " knob-kerries ^'' as they fly 

 from bush to bush ; partly on this account more live Colics 

 were brought to me by my " boys ^^ than any other bird, 

 and I have found them easy to keep in confinemeut both 

 abroad and in England. 



133. BucoRAX ABYssiNicus. Ground-Hombill. 

 Bucorax abyssinicus (Bodd.). 



Iris brown ; bill black, with red patch at base of upper 

 mandible ; wattles bright red ; skin round eye and bare part 

 of throat slaty blue; legs black. 



The Abyssinian Ground-liornbill was by no means un- 

 common, and was generally seen in twos and threes ; at a 

 little distance its resemblance to a Turkey-cock is very 

 marked. The birds were very shy and difficult to approach. 

 I never saw them perching, but several times watched them 

 hunting for food on the ground, pecking at the earth with 

 their strong bills ; they are said to kill snakes, but I never 

 had the good fortune to see one do so. 



134. Mesopicus ph^ocephalus. Blood-breasted Wood- 

 pecker. 



Mesopicus phaocephalus (Swains.). 

 Iris brown ; bill black ; legs dark slate-coloured. 

 A female Blood-breasted Woodpecker was shot at Naivasha 

 on February 24th ; this was the only one obtained. 



135. Thripias namaquus. Bearded Woodpecker. 

 Thripias namaquus Fischer. 



We found the Bearded Woodpecker in small numbers 

 wherever we went. 



