1826 



THE PICARIAN BIRDS 



islands of the Solomon group. They are divisible into three subfamilies, the ground 



hornbills (Bucoradncz\ true hornbills {Bucerotince} , and solid-casqued hornbills 



(Rhinoplatiiuz') . 



These curious and vulture-like hornbills, constituting the first sub- 

 family, are peculiar to Africa, and have a hollow casque, while the 

 back of the neck and middle of the back are both feathered; and 



the metatarsus is long, even to the extent of twice the length of the middle toe 



Ground 



Hornbills 



ABYSSINIAN GROUND HORNBII,!,. 



(One-fifth natural size.) 



and claw. The group is represented only by two species, namely, the Abyssinian 

 hornbill (Bucorax abyssinicus] from Western and Northeastern Africa, and the 

 South-African hornbill (B. cafer) from South Africa, extending on the west to 

 Angola, and on the east to the Pangani river and even as far as the Suk country in 

 Equatoria. These two species differ in the form of the casque, that of the 



