92 



BIRD GALLERY. 



abyssinicus) (1188)*is almost omnivorous, devouring small mammals, 

 reptiles, and all kinds of insects, and sometimes uniting with its fellows 

 to attack and kill large snakes, against which they advance in company. 



The Bucerotinee including all the remaining species, about sixty in 

 number, are characterised by their comparatively short legs suited to their 

 arboreal habits. They frequent dense forest and tall jungle, but at 

 times descend to the ground to bathe, and dig up the loose soil with 

 their bills. The food consists chiefly of fruit and berries ; but small 

 mammals, reptiles, and even fish are sometimes eaten. 



The different genera^are chiefly characterised by the shape of the 

 casque, which varies greatly in form, and in some cases is very slightly 

 developed. 



The species, as may be seen by the examples shown in the case, differ 

 immensely in size, the Uhinoceros-Hornbill (Buceros rhinoceros) (1189) 

 and Homrai (Dichoceros bicornis] (1190) being very large birds, while 

 Cassin's Pigmy Hornbill (L. camurus) (1194) is comparatively small. 

 Some species, such as the Rufous-necked Hornbill ( Aceros nepalensis) 

 (1 199) [Figs, a & b~] and the West African Hornbill (Ceratoyymna atrata) 

 (1203), have the plumage of the sexes entirely different in colour, and 

 these, as well as many other forms, are provided with large crests. One 

 of the most noteworthy is the Helmet-Hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil) (1212), 

 from the Malay countries, with its solid-fronted casque (already alluded 

 to) and its unusually long middle tail-feathers. The ivory-like part 

 of the casque is much used by Eastern artists for carving and making 

 brooches. 



Family XI. CAPRIMULGID^:. NIGHTJARS. (Plate XIX. fig. 2.) 



[Case 61.1 The Nightjars, or " Goatsuckers " as they are often called, include a 

 large number of species with soft Owl-like plumage ranging over the 

 greater part of the world, but apparently absent from the Eastern 

 Pacific Islands. They are mostly nocturnal in their habits, feeding on 

 insects which are captured on the wing, but some species, such as the 

 American Chordiles (1223-4), hawk in the full glare of the sun. The 

 cry is generally harsh, and often loud and distinct, as in the North 

 American " Whip-poor-Will" (Caprimulgus vociferus) (1219). The two 

 beautifully marbled oval eggs are usually laid on the bare ground 

 without any nest ; and the young, though helpless when first hatched, 

 are covered with down. The species of Phalanoptilus are an exception 

 to the rule, and lay white eggs like their close allies the Oil-Birds and 

 Frogmouths. 



Two subfamilies are recognised, viz., the Caprimufyinse, characterised 

 by having the claw of the middle toe pectinate or furnished with a kind 

 of comb, and the Nyctibiime, in which the claw of the middle toe is 



