174- PASSERES. BUCEROTID^. 



We select for illustration of the genus the Con- 

 cave Hornbill (Buceros cavatus, SHAW), a specimen 

 of which lived for sometime at the menagerie of 

 the Zoological Society in the Regent's Park. It is 

 thus described. The throat and face are black ; 

 the neck dirty straw-yellow, the feathers of the 

 nape greatly lengthened: the body and wings 

 black, the quills and their coverts tipped with 

 white ; the tail white, crossed with a band of black ; 

 its coverts, both above and below, are also white. 

 The feet are black, and the beak yellowish, in- 

 clining to scarlet at the tip. 



The Concave Hornbill is a native of India, 

 the Himalayan mountains, Java, and most of the 

 great islands adjacent. " Its food," observes Mr. 

 Gould, " like that of other Hornbills, consists of 

 fruits, berries, flesh, and even carrion ; in short, it 

 may be considered as strictly omnivorous." * Pro- 

 fessor Owen remarks that the specimen dissected 

 by him was observed when alive to be more at- 

 tached to animal than to vegetable food, and would 

 quit any other substance, if a dead mouse were 

 offered to it. This it would swallow entire, after 

 squeezing it twice or thrice with the beak, and no 

 castings were noticed. Petiver, however, has 

 borne testimony to its habit of regurgitation. 



Respecting the purpose to be fulfilled by the 

 great size and remarkable appurtenances of the 

 beak in this genus, we have nothing better to 

 offer than ingenious conjectures: as a specimen of 

 which we may quote the remarks of an eminent 

 zoologist, Mr. W. C. L. Martin, though they do 

 not appear to us very satisfactory. " Active 

 and alert, notwithstanding the magnitude of their 



* Gould's Cent, of Birds. 



