good lead and soars up aloft, it sails in a graceful and easy manner, 
but scarcely rivals in flight the big Fapftores in their feats of aérial 
navigations. Homraius like its race builds, in big holes in trees, 
decayed portions partially hollowed out by the birds themselves, 
when fresh chambers are required, owing to last year’s spots being 
either discovered or destroyed. After the female hornbill has taken 
her place on the eggs, the male shuts her in, by plastering the open- 
ing, just leaving a hole big enough for her to project her long beak 
and neck to be fed, by her devoted mate. This wall construction 
reminds one not a little of the way swallows build their nests of 
mud pellets, worked up into soft clay balls. When the young are 
hatched, the plastered up orifice is broken down and mother bird 
regains her freedom, which she much appreciates, spending, remainder 
of the day shampooing her body and limbs, which must be a bit 
stiff after the long imprisonment, before trusting herself to long 
flights; whilst her mate busies himself as before securing food for 
the party. It is not till next morning does she consent to lend a 
helping hand. I was never fortunate enough to be present when 
the breaking down operations, or removing the obstructing wall, 
commenced, as far as I could make out and from general enquiries, 
this is done mainly by the male bird. It is doubtful if the mother 
can liberate herself. I am told by some Lepcha Shikaries that on 
one or two occasions they had found a mother hornbill dead inside, 
caused no doubt by reckless shooting of its mate by thoughtless nimrods 
unacquainted with the nidification of birds and their different breed- 
ing seasons, Hodgson enlikened the loud, harsh cries of a wounded 
Homraius to the braying of a donkey, doubtlessly these vehement 
vociperations were greater, as it thought of its imprisioned mate, 
and youngsters may be. 
(142) Hyprocissa Axtpirostris, Bengal Pied Torndill, is also 
found in the district. Occasionally seen in denser parts of the 
forests. It is smaller in size than /lomraius, being about 30 inches 
in length. Pied Hornbill seldom ascends much above a few thou- 
sand feet. Bill is long, sharp pointed, casque unlike HHomraius is 
long and acute covers about % of the bill. A/hirostris has similar 
black and white plumage, more black noticeable on lower parts, and 
breast of the bird, patches of white prominently displayed above. 
This Hydrocissa is fairly common in Sub-Himalayan districts. 
(146) AcERos NipaLensis, Pufous-necked Hornbill, is rare and 
seldom met except in Sikkim, where it ascends not much over 6,000 
feet elevation. Occasionally a solitary pair or two is found in the 
district near the Runjeet. This curious looking hornbill differs 
from the foregoing birds. Bill has transverse ridges and groves with 
chesnut spots on the sides of upper mandible; naked skin about 
