HUNTING ON THE SIMBA EIVER 251 



metallic reflections ; others were arrayed in crimsons 

 and greens, gold and purples. 



Barbets with contrasted colours and rino-ino- voice 

 are always in evidence, and there were woodpeckers 

 and shrikes, drongos, babblers and colics. By the river 

 I got a sight of a bnsh-cuckoo, and we heard his note at 

 night. But the only other birds I shall specifically 

 mention were the hornbills. These w^ere not the big 



'•^.■^^ 



A HOENBILL AT SIMBA (probably Lophoceros fasciatus). 



black fellows of the Mau Forest, but of the smaller family 

 defined as Loj^hoceros — quaint creatures, all bill, wings 

 and tail. From tree to tree they sweep in silent 

 undulated flight, alternating half-a-dozen heavy flaps 

 with long drooping glides. The huge bill, always dis- 

 proportionate in appearance, on alighting seems to 

 upset equilibrium altogether, and much flapping and 

 balancing is often required to restore it. One species, 

 as roughly sketched, displayed conspicuous white spots 

 on the wings, and also on the outer tail-feathers. 



