BUPHAGA AFRICANA 26 



" When the Khinoceros Bird wishes to alarm an animal 

 of the approach of danger, they rise for 20 or 30 feet, 

 and fly round in a series of small circles, uttering harsh 

 scolding notes, which much resemble those of the European 

 Missel Thrush. On this signal a wild animal at once takes 

 to flight, but an ox as a rule takes no notice, nnich to the 

 indignation and horror of the birds, who sometimes become 

 perfectly frantic in their endeavours to stampede the beast, 

 flying wildly at his face and eyes, while screaming their 

 loudest. Curiously enough, all this alarm on the part of the 

 Ox-birds seems to be on account of the animals on whose 

 hide they have been searching for food, for they themselves 

 are among the tamest of birds, frequently allowing one to 

 walk within a few paces of them without evincing any alarm 

 whatever. These Starlings not only rid the animals they 

 frequent, of ticks and other vermin, but they often peck at 

 sores on oxen and donkeys until they form cavities, which 

 measure sometimes "2 inches or more in diameter, and as 

 much in depth : they actually do eat the flesh and drink the 

 blood of these animals. Oxen submit quite placidly to this 

 process of being eaten alive, and seem none the worse for it 

 afterwards, but donkeys show their objections by trying to 

 rid themselves of the birds, by rolling on the ground and 

 running under bushes. 



" The Yellow-billed Ox-pecker builds an untidy-looking 

 nest in the natural hollow of a tree. On a foundation of 

 straws and pieces of dried grass a thick pad of hairs is formed, 

 and on this four or five very pale bluish white eggs are 

 deposited. They average llo X O'OO." 



With regard to its range, the species is apparently 

 abundant throughout Senegambia ; Dr. P. Eendall writes 

 from the Gambia : " Common and noisy, but difficult to 

 shoot, as they will not leave the backs of the cattle. Besides 



