EURYLAIMID^. 239 



the forests, in Tenasserlm ; and that they are so very fearless 

 that the whole flock can be shot down, one after the other. 

 These habits are certainly unusual in birds of this family; and, 

 I think, require confirmation. 



The other types of this small, but highly interesting, family 

 are Eurylaimus javanicus, and E. ochromelas, from Burmah 

 and Malayana ; Corydon sumatranus, from Burmah and the 

 Isles, in which the bill is developed to its greatest extent, 

 and approaches closely to that of Podargus ; Cymhirhynchus 

 Tnacrorhynchus, also a large-billed bird from Tenasserim and Ma- 

 layana ; and the nearly allied, but smaller, C. affiiiis, from Arrakan. 

 The former of these species is said to build a globular nest, suspend- 

 ed from the branches of trees growing directly out of the water, 

 and the eggs are said to be pale blue. This I consider to be in 

 great need of confirmation. Peltops Blainvillii, from New Guinea, 

 is another allied race. Calyptomena viridis, of Malacca and the Isles, 

 is a bird which presents considerable affinities with Rupicola of 

 South America, belonging to the Ampelidce. It is usually classed 

 with the Eurylaimi, but differs a good deal from the previously- 

 noticed members of this family, and has been placed in a separate 

 sub-family by Bonaparte. Smithornis, Bon. of S. Africa, founded on 

 PlaiyrhyncJius capensis, A. Smith, is placed, by Bonaparte, in 

 this family. 



The Todies (Todidje,) of S. America, consist of a single genus, 

 Todus, of small size and green plumage, with an elongated flat-bill, 

 which, by its habit of excavating a hole in a bank to deposit its 

 eggs, and other points, shows an affinity to the Kingfishers. 



Fam. BuCEROTiD^, Hornbills. 



Bill enormous, arched or curved, often with an appendage or 

 casque on the upper mandible ; nostrils small, at the junction 

 of the casque with the bill, or near the culmen, when there is 

 no casque ; wings short, rounded ; tail long, of ton feathers ; 

 tarsus short, stout ; feet moderately large, syndactyle ; hind-toe 

 short ; claws short, thick, well-curved. 



The Hornbills are a group of birds distinguished, at first 

 sight, by the enormous size of their bills, which are further, in 



