The Hornbills 



177 



basket by splitting up the end of a bamboo for about a 

 foot in several strips, and then tying a ring inside to keep 

 them open in a cup-shape. 



" We then returned to the tree, and to our surprise found 

 several more Hornbills, some feeding the birds in the hole, 

 and others flying round, and constantly settling near the 

 spot. Whilst we were watching these birds we saw a small 

 Paradoxure (HemigaU hardwickii) coming along a branch 

 of the tree in the direction of the nest. At once it occurred 



Hardwicke's Paradoxure. 



to me that the wall of gummy substance was made for a 

 protection against attacks of such animals as this. The 

 men wanted to shoot it, but I was curious to see what it 

 would do. Presently the Paradoxure came to the hole, 

 and the hen-bird inside darted a sharp blow at it with her 

 beak, narrowly missing the beast's head. The animal then 

 turned back and ran along the branch, whence a shot from 

 my gun brought it to the ground. The Dyak then went 

 up the tree by his ladder, and quickly captured the hen- 

 bird in his ingenious basket, without injuring her ; and we 



