JOS BUCEROTID^ LOPHOCEROS 



Length about 27-0; wing 11-5: tail 9-5; casque to tip 5-5; 

 culmen of bill from notch 1*5 ; tarsus 1*8. 



The female is smaller than the male (wing 1O5) and has a much 

 smaller casque abruptly truncated about the middle of the length 

 of the bill. 



In the young bird there is scarcely a trace of the casque, which 

 takes some months to develop. 



Distribution. The Trumpeter Hornbill is spread over the 

 southern and eastern portions of Africa, from Knysna in Cape 

 Colony through Natal, Nyasaland and German east Africa to 

 Witu in British east Africa. The following are recorded localities 

 within our limits : Cape Colony Knysna, very rare (Victorin), 

 King William's Town (Bt. Mus.), Port St. Johns (S. A. Mus.) ; Natal 

 near Durban (Delagorgue), Ifafa and St. Lucia Lake (Woodward), 

 Karkloof near Maritzburg (S. A. Mus.) ; Transvaal Oliphant's river 

 in Zoutspansberg (W. Ayres) ; Portuguese east Africa Shupanga 

 on the Zambesi (Kirk and Alexander). 



Habits. The Trumpeter Hornbill frequents forest districts, 

 where it is found in small flocks, which constantly resort to the 

 same roosting place. It is a bird of strong and somewhat noisy 

 flight and has a harsh, loud and complaining note, compared by 

 some to the mewing of a cat, by others to the bleating of a lamb ;, 

 Mr. W, Ayres syllables it thus " kor, kor, kor." This Hornbill 

 appears to be almost entirely frugivorous and is especially fond of 

 wild figs. The Woodwards obtained two young birds from a nest 

 in a tree growing on one of the krantzes on the Ifafa river in Natal, 

 but no further details are given and we are at present without 

 information as to whether the female is plastered up, as in the case 

 of the members of the genus Lophoceros. One of the young birds 

 belonging to the Woodwards remained with them a long time, 

 accompanying them on their journeys and devouring ravenously 

 fruit, bread, mice, grubs or almost anything offered. 



Genus III. LOPHOCEROS. 



Type. 

 Lophoceros, Hempr. & Ehr. Symb. Phys. Av. (1833)... L. nasutus. 



Bill moderate and curved, without or with only a small keel- 

 shaped casque ; a moderate crest of soft feathers ; sides of the throat 

 more or less naked but not wattled ; tail long and usually square, 

 about the same length as the wing ; tarsus short, equal to or shorter 

 than the middle toe and claw. 



