Indian Birds 



It is often found far from water, since it 

 feeds largely on insects, which it picks off the 

 ground in much the same way as the roller or 

 so-called blue jay does. 



The above three kingfishers are among the 

 commonest birds of India. There are several 

 other species of more restricted distribution ; 

 but as these are only common locally, I have 

 not included them in this work. The reader 

 should experience no difficulty in identifying 

 them with the aid of the descriptions in the 

 Fauna of British India. (Illus. B. D., p. 104 ; 

 also B. P., p. 4.) 



^he Hornbills, 121 and 122 



These include some of the strangest forms in 

 nature. They are often erroneously called 

 Toucans by Anglo-Indians. Toucans do not 

 occur in India. Hornbills are characterised 

 by the enormous development of the bill. I 

 have elsewhere described the largest of the 

 hornbills as follows : Dichoceros bicornis is 

 " nearly 4-J- feet in length. The body is only 

 14 inches long, being an insignificant part 

 of the bird, a mere connecting link between 

 the massive beak and the great loosely inserted 

 164 



