on a Private Collection of Living Birds. 177


The Jerboa wasted no time in sentimental tears, bnt promptly

plucked the body quite bare, except the wings ; the plump,

well-nourished condition of the Mouse-bird was thus plainly

evident, as was also the weight and firmness of the body on

being taken into the hand.


Anthracoceros convexus (Temminck’s Pied Hornbill).


All the specimens of this bird I have seen were sleepy-

looking fowl, and the hen Hornbill, which I received in 1901,

was no exception to the rule, sitting sluggishly on her perch for

an hour at a time, and only descending to feed. On feeling the

pangs of hunger she would utter a hoarse croak, and then, hop¬

ping off the perch and across the floor in a very ungainly fashion,

would seize the food—grapes, chopped bananas, pieces of fish,

and so on—swallowing great portions whole, and disposing of

piece after piece in rapid succession. Live frogs were killed by

a nip of the beak, and then the luckless victim was passed

backwards and forwards in the bird’s bill until crushed into a

shapeless mass, which was then swallowed. Drowned mice were

carefully dried before being devoured, the Hornbill rubbing the

body on a branch in the most fastidious manner, pausing from

time to time as if to test the dryness or otherwise of the dainty

morsel by means of the tactile sensibility of the membrane

lining the beak : the whole operation was a very solemn affair,

conducted with due gravity and often occupying a full ten

minutes. I once gave this Hornbill a small dead bird. She

eyed it attentively, and then, as if suddenly comprehending what

it was, quickly threw her wing over it to prevent its escape : the

crushing and swallowing programme followed in due course.

This Hornbill had a curious habit of shaking the feathers with

a tremulous movement as if shivering: this habit has also been

recorded of other picarian birds.


Coracias garrula (Roller.)


This lovely bird is only seen to advantage in a spacious

aviary, where it can fly freely and expand its silvery cobalt

wings, the full beauty of which can only be seen during flight.

The Roller, although a well known bird, is apparently rare in



