HORNBILLS. 171 



nature these birds, in this part of India (Malac- 

 ca), live on wild fruits. In confinement they feed 

 freely on plantains and on boiled rice. At night 

 they perch with great security, though the large- 

 ness of the foot seems better suited to rest on the 

 ground." Other writers state that these birds 

 feed also upon small quadrupeds, birds, and rep- 

 tiles, pressing them flat in their beak, then tossing 

 them in the air, catching them in the throat, and 

 swallowing them whole. In this latter habit, no 

 less than in the omnivorous character of their 

 appetite, the Hornbills present a remarkable re- 

 semblance to the Toucans. 



Mr. G. R. Gray, in his beautiful work on " The 

 Genera of Birds," thus sums up the habits of this 

 singular genus: " They are usually observed 

 singly, or in small or large parties, in the dense 

 forests or jungles, perched or squatted longitudi- 

 nally on the highest branches, especially those of 

 elevated and decayed trees in the neighbourhood 

 of rivers. On the approach of day-light they 

 leave their roosting-places, and proceed to the 

 neighbouring forests in search of fruit-bearing 

 trees, hopping from branch to branch for the 

 fruits which constitute their food ; and when 

 evening returns they again repair to the place that 

 they had left at day-light. When they have 

 cleared one neighbourhood of its food, they resort 

 to a fresh locality ; which occasions them to be 

 observed at different periods in various places. 

 .... Their flight is heavy and straight, gene- 

 rally at a considerable height ; and they make a 

 remarkable noise in striking the air with their 

 wings. The cry consists of a short hoarse croak, 

 but when the bird is excited this is changed to a 



