63 ZOOLOGY OF INDIA. 



Tower from thy shores, and stretch across thy bed, 



Making thee doleful as a cavern- well : 



Save where the shy kingfishers build their nest 



On thy steep banks, no loves hast thou, wild stream. 



The last genus of the great passerine order is that called 

 Biiccros, which includes the calaos or hombills. Ihese 

 birds are remarkable for their enormous dentated beaks, 

 frequently surmounted by an additional horny structure, 

 which bestows on them a very striking and peculiar physi- 

 oenomy. They resemble the toucans in their heads ; their 

 port and general habits assimilate to those of crows, while 

 their feet are somewhat analogous to those of the kingfishers. 

 The hombills exhibit an awkward and uncommon aspect 

 while in the act of flying, in consequence of the great size 

 of their beaks and lengthened tails, and altogether their 

 appearance is extremely uncouth. Perhaps one of the 

 most singular features in their economy is the iact of their 

 feeding greedily and without injury on the seeds of nux 



vomica. , , . , i,„„„ 



A Iar<Te and remarkable species of this genus has been 

 recently'described by Mr. Hodgson. It measures four feet 

 five inches from tip to tip of the wings, and is three feet six 

 fnches long, from bill to tail inclusive. The bill is e.gjit 

 inches long, and the tail one foot five mches. Its body 

 exceeds tliat of the largest raven, but is very lank and in- 

 compact. The general colour is black, with a white pointed 

 tail and a patch of the same colour on the wings. It is 

 often difficult to ascertain the natural habits of a shy and 

 rare species; but it is believed that the bird in question 

 feeds chiefly on fruits, although when pressed by hunger it 

 will also seize upon reptiles. The bill is far less formidable 

 than it would appear to be, and the claws are extremely 

 blunt, from which it may be inferred that its habits are not 

 raptorial, even in the meanest sense ; and its freedom trom 

 any offensive odour, as well as the excellence of its flesh, 

 which is much esteemed by the mountaineers as an article 

 of food, go far to prove that its habits are almost entirely 

 frugivorous. Mr. Hodgson, however, observes, that in the 

 domestic state it will eat meat either dressed or raw, and 

 with apparent relish. The specimen in question was ted 

 principally on boiled rice mixed with ghee, and made up 

 into large balls. It was never observed to take any water. 



