228 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



with five whitish raised striae; tip and edge red. Length, 

 20" ; wing, 8" 6'" ; tail, 7". 



Hartlaub and Sundevall quote this as au inhabitant of Kaffraria. 

 All the specimens I have seen came from Mr. Chapman, shot towards 

 the Zambesi. 



Genus BUCORVUS, Lesson. 



The characters similar to those of the former genus, except 

 that the tarsi are very long, strong, and covered in front 

 with large scales, those near the toes being hexagonal ; toes 

 short, thick, the inner toe rather shorter than the outer, both 

 united at the base, especially that of the outer ; the hind toe 

 long and strong ; the claws moderate, curved, and acute. 



458. Bucorvus Abyssinicus. (Gm) pi. Eni. 



779 ; B. Carunculatus, Wagl. Syst. A v. Spec. 6 ; B. 

 Leadheateri, Vig. Av. Juv. ; Le Calao CaronciiU, Le 

 Vail., Pis. 230 and 231 ; Brom-Vogel of Colonists. 



All black, with the exception of the webs of the primaries, 

 which are white ; bill very large, and much casqued, with a 

 large patch of bare red skin at the base ; size very large. 



Common on the Eastern frontier; but in consequence of their feed- 

 ing on carrion, and emitting a dreadful stench, I have not succeeded 

 in inducing any of my correspondents to send me one. I am told that 

 they associate in large flocks, and devour vast quantities of grubs and 

 locusts. They get their name from the droning cry they utter. The 

 Fiugoes seem to attach some superstitious veneration to them, and 

 object to their being shot in the neighbourhood of their dwellings, lest 

 they should lose their cattle by disease. 



Le Vaillant figures loc. cit. a head of this bird, in which the bare 

 space round the eye and the lower portion of that on the neck are 

 blue. In a single dried head which we possess, these parts are deep 

 orange-red. 



