BUCEROTTD^. 225 



The Seventh Family, BUCEROTID^, 

 or Hornbills, 



have the bill more or less. lengthened, curved, broad at the 

 base, and compressed to the end with the culmcn furnished 

 with a singularly-formed helmet, or only curved to the, tip, 

 which is acute ; the nostrils basal, and usually rounded ; 

 the win2;s moderate ; the tail generally long, broad, and 

 more or less graduated ; the tarsi in most, short and strong ; 

 toes moderate, strong, and more or less united at their base, 

 especially the outer toe; claws short, and rather obtuse 



The only Sub-Family, BUCEROTINJE, or 

 Hornbills, 

 have similar characters to those given above. 



Genus BUCEROS, Linn. 



Bill large, more or less long, broad at the base, and more 

 or less surmounted by a helmet of various shapes, with the 

 culmen curved, and the sides much compressed to the tip, 

 which is pointed ; the lateral margins smooth in the young, 

 and more or less jagged in the adult ; the nostrils basal and 

 lateral, with the opening small, exposed, and rounded ; 

 wings rather short, with the third quill nearly as long as the 

 fourth or fifth, which are equal and longest ; tail generally 

 long, broad, and more or less graduated ; tarsi rather short, 

 robust, and covered in front with broad transverse strong 

 scales ; toes rather long, broad ; the outer toe longer than 

 the inner, both united at the base, especially the outer, the 

 union of which is continued to the second joint ; the hind toe 

 long, strong, and strongly scutellated above ; the clavvs 

 strong, long, curved, and acute ; the face and throat more 

 or less naked, the latter sometimes furnished with a gular 

 pouch. 



453. BucerOS CorOnatUS, Shaw; Enc. Meth. 

 Ois, t. 24)0 ; B. Melanoleucus, Lioht. Cat; Le Vail, 

 PI. 2.34, 235 ; Swain, Zool. lllus, PI. 178. 



Head grey, some of the feathers at the back rather elon- 

 gated, and centred with white, giving the bird when in some 

 positions the appearance of having a white half-circle at the 

 back ; back dark-brown, each feather edged with lighter 

 brown; wing feathers very dark brown, edged with white ; 



