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TUE HORNBILLS. By 
ORDER STRISORES. WIDE-MOUTHED BIRDS. 
By Lilljeborg’s arrangement this order comprehends seven interesting 
families, which are characterized as follows : — 
ae connected by a movable skin. Gape very large. Secondaries long, 35, CAPRIMULGID.©, Sun- 
i not connected by / very short, not ex- ( short and broad at base. 
s movable skin, tending to bas Hinder toe generally 
oS | Ante-{ though some- of tail. Wi 4 versatile forwards. . . 36, CYPseLip.2, Sund. 
‘My rior times more or long and arcuate. l lon ad slender. Hinder 
a toes less united, Sie e Feute ere ba toe not versatile. . . . 37. TROCHILID-®, Sund, 
i Secondaries ..} rather long, and f unconnected, Bristles rigi 38. CORACID.&, Sund, 
n passing beyond small, with { arcuate 
base of tail. / united. | tarsi short down- P 
Anterior toes l pind  Wards-+- 39. MEROPID#, Sund, 
at base... . straight, or 
Feet little re- 
eurved.. 40, ALCEDINID.E, Gray, 
large, with tarsi quite 
lone, or moderate, 
sometimes rather 
GHOrue *saseenotsce 41, BUCEROTID&, Sund, 
Pace 5 
The subdivisions of these groups are thus characterized : — 
CAPRIMULGID-E, { pectinated inside. Bill weak. .... . Caprimulginey, Bonap. 
Nail of middle toe / not peetinated. Bill stout... .... Steatornithiney, G. Gray. 
fora E : - hi Versatile: forwards. soe 50: 3) 2 Cypseline, Bonap. 
CYPSELID-E. Hallux j not vy BF late areata Sutae et cal iectiesy 6 Collocalini 
Ric ers - aoe “<n wen y Cisconnected .- 5. = Trochilinew, Bonap. 
STRISORES. TROCHILID-E. Anterior toes at base jconnected .. 0. ee Phaéthornithinw, G. Gray. 
) CORACIDA. 60 se ete ee aca eae er en et ee ee a Coracine, Bonap. 
2 : 2 F “5 aroine p Serrated 2.2... Prioniting, Bonap. 
Merorip.£. Bill with margins entire went 2b Le Meropins, Bonap. 
ee rs : sea ( COMPIessed.. oss ee we, os ee 3) Ss Aleedinine, Bouup. 
ALCEDINIDE. Bill at base (notcompressed ........ Halcyonine, G, Gray, 
BUCEROTIDE «ec sce ee sees s ese nsec eses Bucerotine, Bonap. 
Famity Bucerotip®. HorneI1s. 
These strange-looking birds, characterized by the enormous development 
of the beak, are natives of India and Africa. Not only is the beak of 
immense magnitude, but the upper mandible is furnished with projecting 
appendages, adding greatly to its entire dimensions, and in some species 
encroaching over the top of the head. These appendages increase with age. 
In young birds they are very small, and their figure is undefined, and it is 
gradually that they acquire their enormous dimensions. The immense beak, 
thus furnished, seems to be heavier than it is (and it is by no means light), 
for the additional appendage is cellular internally ; the edges of both man- 
dibles are roughly notched. 
M. Lesson sums up the habits of the Hornbills thus : — 
“Those of Africa live on carrion; those of the Kast Indies seek for fruits, 
especially nutmegs, and their flesh thence acquires a delicious flavor. Their 
flight is performed by repeated strokes of the wings, and the air which they 
displace, joined to the clattering of their mandibles, occasions a great and 
very disquieting noise in the forests when the cause is unknown. This 
noise, capable of inspiring terror, does not ill resemble those flaws of rough 
