On the Horiibills of the Ethiopian Region. 47 



III. — On the Hornbills of the Ethiopian Region. 

 By Captain G. E. Shelley, F.Z.S. 



Key to the Genera. 



a. Tarsus long, much longer than half the length of 



the bill, measured from the gape. In adults the 

 sides of the head and upper throat bare, with 

 wattles on the throat 1 . Bucorvus. 



b. Tarsus short, not half the length of the bill, mea- 



sured from the gape. 

 6^. Tail square or rounded ; less than half the 

 length of the bird. 

 b'^. Cheeks and a large wattle on the centre of 



the throat bare , 2. Ceratogymna. 



c'. Cheeks and throat feathered. 



c'. Bill stouter and not so much compressed 

 at the sides. Generally with a large 



casque 3. Biiceros. 



d^. Bill comparatively more slender and much 



compressed at the sides 4. Lophoceros. 



c\ Tail long and strongly graduated ; more than 



half the length of the bird 5. Berenicornis. 



1. BUUOKVUS. 



1831. Bucorvus, Less. Traite d'Orn. 1831, Type. 



p. 259 B. abyssinicus. 



1847. Tmetoceros, Cab. Wiegm. Arch. 18 17, 



p. 345 B. abyssinicus. 



1849. Bucorax, Sundev. OEfv. K. Vet. Ak. 



Forli. 1849, p. 161 B. abyssinicus. 



Key to the Species. 



a. Bill with a large pale-coloured patch near the base 



of the upper mandible. Casque widely opened in 



front in adult males 1. B. abyssinicus, 



b. Bill entirely black, with no pale-coloured patch 



near the base of the upper mandible. Casque 



apparently always closed in front 2. B. caffer. 



Owing to the great similarity of these species and the 

 want of sufficient specimens, 1 have been unable satisfactorily 

 to unravel their synonymy. B. abyssinicus inhabits North- 



