416 Mr. D. G. Elliot on Buceros bicornis, Linn. 



breeds numerously/^ In Mr. Gould's folio, too, no more 

 detailed account is given, with the exception of the record 

 of Sclater's unsuccessful expedition ten years ago. Now our 

 experiences as to the position of the SpoonbilPs nest certainly 

 agree with the details given by Messrs. Dickson and Ross, 

 who met with it breeding near Erzeroum (P. Z. S. 1839, 

 p. 134) ; and this seems to have been the fullest account known 

 f to Mr. Dresser at the time of writing his article. So, although 

 there seems to be no reasonable doubt that in some cases it 

 nests in lofty trees, we may claim to have established the fact 

 that in Holland it breeds on the ground among the reed-beds, 

 and to be able to assure those naturalists who happen to be 

 in Amsterdam at the right time that there is no better way 

 of spending a spare day than an excursion to the Spoonbills' 

 nesting-place on the Horster Meer. 



We cannot conclude this short account of a most delightful 

 day without thanking Mr. Hegt most heartily for his kind 

 arrangements for our trip, without which we should pro- 

 bably have encountered considerable diflEiculty in reaching our 

 destination. It is to be feared that in England we could hardly 

 promise to show our friends an equally interesting sight in 

 such close proximity to our metropolis ! 



XXXVI. — Remarks on the Buceros bicornis of Linnseus. 

 By D. G. Elliot, F.R.S.E. &c. 



In 'Stray Feathers' for 1876, p. 385, Mr. Hume expresses 

 the opinion that the name of Buceros bicornis, bestowed by 

 Linnaeus upon a species of Hornbill, belongs properly to the 

 B. convexus, Temminck, described in the ' Planches Coloriees,' 

 and figured on plate no. 530. In order to test the correct- 

 ness of this view, it will be advantageous to ascertain, as far 

 as may be possible, the material at Linnseus's command when 

 he estabUshed the name of bicornis ; and to accomplish this 

 satisfactorily it will be necessary to examine the older authors 

 cited by him, and whom, it is very evident, he mainly followed. 

 Willughby is among the first of those quoted by Linnaeus ; and 



