The Brom - Vogel. 12 r


THE BROM-VOGEL.


Bucorax cafer.


By W. L. Sclater, M.A.


During the years in which I had charge of the Museum at

Cape Town I was able to secure and keep a certain number of

birds and animals alive; though I must say that the opportunities

for getting hold of live animals were very infrequent. This

was perhaps due to the position of Cape Town, standing as it

does, in the extreme south-west corner of the Colony, and on a

peninsula separated almost completely from the main mass of

the land.


Still, from time to time, I did have live animals and birds

given to me. We had round the Museum a large open space or

compound and it was possible to house some of them on this

ground, while others I used to keep out in the suburbs in my

own garden.


Of all the birds which I had from time to time in my

possession, by far the most interesting and unusual was the

South African Ground Hornbill (Bucorax cafer). The particular

individual which I had, was given to me by Colonel Bowker, a

well-known naturalist, who was associated with my predecessor at

Cape Town—Mr. Roland Trimen—in his great work on South

African Butterflies.


I paid a visit to Col. Bowker, a short time before he died,

at his house near Durban in Natal, and there I first saw “ Brom.”

He was more like a pet dog than a captive bird. He lived about

the house following his master when he went for a walk, and

squatting by the side of his chair when he was at work or

reading. I was much struck with the bird, and after my return

to Cape Town, to my great delight, Col. Bowker sent him round

to me as a present.


The genus Bucorax is con fir. ed to Africa and contains two

species. One of these is found throughout western and north¬

eastern Africa and is known as Bucorax abyssinic 7 is. It is

distinguished by having on its bill a considerable casque abruptly

truncated and open in front, while the great wattle of bare skin

in front of the neck is blue.



