348 INSESSORES. 



tions of the bird made by Professor Owen. More than twenty 

 species of the genus Buceros have been named. 



The ITALIAN RAVEN, B. hydrocorax, (Gr. Water Raven,) 

 found in the Moluccas and in Africa, has the walk of the Crow, 

 but is unlike that bird in its food, rejecting carrion, and being 

 particularly fond of nutmegs, devouring them so greedily as 

 often to do serious damage. The flesh is very delicate, and 

 when roasted, possesses an aromatic flavor derived from its food. 



The RHINOCEROS HORN-BILL, B. Rhinoceros, differs from the In- 

 dian Raven in living upon carrion ; it " casts forth a strong smell, 

 and hath a foul look, and much exceeds the European Raven in 

 bigness." This bird is about the size, though rather more slender 

 than a hen-turkey ; its color is black, except the lower part of the 

 belly and the tip of the tail, which are white ; the bill is usually 

 about ten inches long and of a yellowish white ; the upper mandi- 

 ble red at the, base ; the lower, black ; the legs are short, strong, and 

 of a pale yellow color. The cry consists of a short hoarse croak, 

 but when the bird is excited, this is changed to a loud discord, 

 ant noise. It breeds in the hollows of lofty trees. The flight 

 of the Horn-bills is sailing and resembles that of the crow ; on 

 the ground, they advance by a leaping kind of movement, assisted 

 by the wings. When making their leaps on the highest branches 

 oi' trees, and in their loud call note to their mates, the hollow 

 protuberance of their beaks seems to be to them like a sounding 

 board, increasing the reverberations of the air. The beak, it is 

 thought, "constitutes a necessary defence against monkeys and 

 other animals which may seek to assail its nest ;" or it may be 

 used in " drawing snakes and lizards from their lurking places, 

 and young birds and eggs from the recesses of old and decaying 

 trees." 



SIXTH FAMILY. PLANTAIN- EATERS. 



Musophagada, (Gr. ftovaa, musa, gen. term for plantain ; <p6ya), 

 phago, to eat.) 



This family, though a small one, includes birds of uncommon 

 elegance and richness of plumage. They have a short beak ; 

 the upper mandible is much arched, and has its edges cut into 

 minute saw-like teeth ; the lower mandible is thin and narrow. 

 The feet are short and formed for climbing, the outer toe being 

 capable of a partial reversion ; it is, however, united to the mid- 

 dle toe by a short membrane. The tail, as in the Colies, con- 

 sists of but ten feathers ; the head is generally clothed with a 



