74 BUCEKOTID^. 



ceeds. I have seen none of these eggs as deeply stained as those 

 of D. bicornis and A. tickelli sometimes are. 



Ten eggs measure from 1-81 to 2-02 in length and from T32 to 1-4 

 in breadth, but the average is 1-9 by 1*35. 



Ocyceros birostris (Shaw). The Northern Grey ffornbilL 



Meniceros bicornis (Sc&p.), Jerd. . Ind. i, p. 248. 



Ocyceros giuginianus (Shaw}, Hume, Rough Draft N. Sf E. no. 144. 



The Northern Grey Hornbill breeds from April to June, in holes 

 and hollows of large soft-wooded trees, such as the aroo (Adanthe* 

 ecccelsa), the semul (Bomba.r, several species), and the peepul 

 (Fieus religiosa). The egg-chamber is usually very large, at least 

 one foot in diameter, and the aperture is always more or less closed 

 with the droppings of the bird, whether so placed by purpose 

 aforethought, in view to increasing the internal temperature of 

 the cavity, or accidentally collected about the aperture, in the re- 

 moval daily by the female of her droppings, I cannot myself say from 

 personal observation. The eggs are from three to five in number ; 

 but though I have opened many nests, I have only once obtained 

 the eggs ; in all other cases I have found from one to four unfledged 

 young ones. As far as I can judge, the female never leaves the 

 iiest-hole from the day she lays her first egg until her young are at 

 least one week old. My friend, the late Mr. C. Home, gives a 

 good account of the nidification of this species : 



" In April 1868 I received intelligence of two nests, and found 

 that both bad been made in the trunk of semul or cotton-trees 

 (Bombay heptaphyllum), the bird having dug out and enlarged with 

 his bill holes in this soft wood which had been previously used by 

 Parrots. 



" In each case I obtained three eggs ; and the hole, at a great 

 height from the ground, appeared to have been plastered up with 

 cowdung, or something resembling it. I could not, however, de- 

 termine this positively, as in each case I had to go some 6 or 8 

 miles, and so had no opportunity of observing the process. The 

 bird which I took from one nest had lost many of her loosely 

 put-on feathers and appeared to be in bad condition. As, however, 

 the natives wanted her flesh for medicinal purposes, I allowed them 

 to take her. 



" I was, however, more fortunate at the close of the same month 

 (April 1868). On my lawn, surrounded by other trees, stood a 

 noble sisso tree (Dcdbei'gia sissoo} ; and where the first great fork 

 diverged was a hole, for the possession of which, for purposes of 

 incubation, the Boilers and Parrots were always noisily contending. 

 I had often wished the Horn bills to use this ; and I was much 

 pleased to see that, after great consultation and inspection, despite 

 much vociferation by the Rollers and screeching by the Parrots, 

 they on April 28, 1868, made up their minds to use it. The hole 

 was nearly a foot in depth and roomy inside. On the 29th of April 

 the female went into the hole and did not a^aiu come out. 



