APPENDIX 323 



as low as Simba at end of March. It migrates northward at 

 that date to breed. 



The African Hoopoe {U. africano) is abundant, and was 

 also observed at Simba in March, and at various other points. 

 It frequents open bush, and is distinguished by its dark wing 

 (not barred with white as in U. epops) and its redder body- 

 colour. Resident. 



Wood-Hoopoes (Irrisor) 



These are forest-frequenting birds, without crest, blackish in 

 plumage, with glossy metallic lustre of deep greens and purples, 

 and showing only a single white bar on the wings. Their tails 

 are lonsf graduated and cuneate, each feather having a sub- 

 terminal white bar. These are noisy birds, attracting one's 

 attention by a harsh discordant chatter within the bush, and 

 then, on being disturbed, flying off with loud outcries. 



At Sultan Hamud I watched a pair climbing like Wood- 

 peckers in search of insects on rough tree-trunks, and made the 

 rough sketch inserted at p. 243. 



HORNBILLS 



(Usuall}^ but quite wrongly, called "Toucans" — the latter 



being exclusively a South- American family.) 



Great Ground-Hornbill — Bucorax caffer. Only found in dense 

 forest, or about the margins or " opens " thereof. Re- 

 sembles a turkey as it struts along the ground, feeding 

 on small reptiles, insects and everything that crawls, 

 and with great red wattles pendent from its bare blue 

 throat. The flight appears smooth and noiseless as that 

 of an owl, though when disturbed close at hand a loud 

 rustling is audible ; it is gently undulated by the inter- 

 mittent wing-beats, the broad white bands on the wings and 

 the immensely long tail being consj^icuous. Always wild 

 and watchful. See p. 197. 



In the Mau forests we noticed several large Hornbills, which 

 probably included (besides the above) — 



Trumpeter Hornbill — Bycanistes luccincdor (p. 192). 

 Crested Hornbill — B. cristatus (p. 193). 



