OCYCEEOS. 75 



" There was sufficient room in it for the female to draw in her head 

 altogether when she wished to conceal herself or to bring up the 

 ordure from below. 



" The hole being about 10 feet from the ground and opposite 

 my verandah, I could watch everything perfectly through a glass. 

 The tree was also very near to the house. 



" From the time the female went in, the male was most assiduous 

 in feeding her, bringing generally the small peepul-fig. 



** On April 30th 1 observed the female working hard at closing the 

 orifice with her own ordure. This she must have brought up from 

 the bottom of the hole ; and she plastered it, right and left, with 

 the flat sides of her beak, as with a trowel. 



' I never saw the male bring anything but food ; and I never 

 found any fruit which had been rejected under the tree, and but 

 very little ordure, which latter had apparently been thrown out by 

 the female when the closing work was finished. 



"The male bird would alight near, then fly to the hole (holding 

 on to the bark by his claws) and knock with its beak. On this, 

 the points of that of the female appeared and received the fruit, 

 when the male flew off. 



" I herewith beg to submit some of the substance with which 

 the hole was closed up, which is manifestly what I suppose it to be, 

 and when fresh possesses great viscidity. It contains the remains 

 of insects, which probably the female had eaten before she entered 

 the hole, thus confirming Dr. Jerdon's statement as to their various 

 diet. 



" The hole was at first perhaps 6 inches in height, and 3 or 4 

 wide. When closed up, the opening at the widest part was a 

 little larger than would admit the finger. It should, however, be 

 borne in mind that the bill opened upwards, and thus had 3 or 4 

 inches play. The plastering-operation took two or three days, 

 after which the ordure was thrown out. 



" The third Hornbill used to hover about, watch proceedings, 

 and sometimes quarrel with the accepted lord, but he never brought 

 food to the female. 



" On May 7th, thinking that I had given time enough for the' 

 female to lay her three eggs, which I wanted, I got a ladder, opened 

 out the nest, and with some difficulty got out the bird, who was fat 

 and in good condition, with the desired eggs (three). At first she 

 could scarcely fly, but did so after a little time. 



"The natives, who know the habits of these birds well, told me 

 that the female digs herself out directly her newly hatched young 

 need food ; and this is most probably correct." 



Colonel Butler remarks : " Mr. J. Davidson sent me an egg he 

 took at Samoda, Khandesh, in April 1880, and two more at Pim- 

 plnir, Khandesh, in April 1881." 



The eggs that I have are a uniform dull white, slightly soiled 

 and discoloured here and there, and are broad, rather perfect, ovals, 

 devoid of ^loss, and recalling the eggs of Tun'm-mi. .v/V/w ;m<( TV/?- 



