FEEDING THE PRISONERS 



prisonment is voluntary, for the female often assists in build- 

 ing the wall, which appears to be intended to afford her protec- 

 tion against the attacks of monkeys and the great monitor 

 lizards which climb trees and work much havoc amongst 

 their feathered inhabitants. It is likely, too, that the 

 process of moulting is more safely completed whilst the bird 

 is thus incarcerated; some species, at all events, moult at 

 this time, and Bernstein suggested that the barricade might 

 be intended merely to prevent the hen bird from falling out 

 of the nest, for the latter being usually at no small distance 

 from the ground, she would, with scarcely a quill remaining 

 in her wings, be unable to fly back again after such an 

 accident. 



Whatever the object of the wall may be, there is no 

 doubt about it being an efficient barrier, for it is of extreme 

 hardness when dry, and very difficult to break down. It is 

 made of mud, clay, and dirt, combined in some cases, it 

 appears, with various gums, and in building it up the birds 

 use their great bills like trowels. 



The imprisonment lasts until the young are almost or 

 quite fully fledged, and during the whole period the male 

 bird is kept busily employed in supplying his mate, and 

 later on his family also, with the food which they are unable, 

 in their helpless condition, to procure for themselves. If he 

 be killed at this time, other males are said to undertake the 

 task of bringing in supplies. By the time the nestlings are 

 strong enough to be released the male bird is usually * worn 

 to a shadow ' by his heavy responsibilities. 



Writing of the Great Pied Hornbill (Dkhoceros bicornis) 

 the largest member of the family, measuring almost five feet 

 in length and of its nesting habits in Tenasserim, Colonel 

 Tickell says that having heard of a pair that had nested in 

 the same spot for several years he " lost no time in going to 



161 



