1869. ] HABITS OF THE HORNBILLS. 143 
than the thickened semichondrified lining membrane of the gizzard. 
All the puckerings and indentations were more or less exactly repre- 
sented, though less sharp in outline than is ordinarily the case. 
The mucous surface of the inner wall of the bag was slimy, other- 
wise perfectly identical with the same structure in a healthy bird. 
The surface outside, on that which might be said to be the sub- 
mucous tissue, was moist, comparatively uninjured, and free from any 
effusion or disease. The rim of the mouth of the bag was irregular 
and shreddy, and thinned away at its free edge. 
‘« The soft egg-like bodies contained within this (so to speak) cast- 
up sac proved to be seven or eight discoloured grapes; or they 
might be, so far as appearance went, raisins. None of these had 
undergone the process of digestion, but, from their sodden aspect, I 
believe had been slightly acted on by the gastric juice. 
* Positive of the nature of this queer rejected pellet, there follows 
the still more extraordinary circumstance that the Hornbill should 
live and feed afterwards, seemingly not much affected by the loss of 
the inner coat of its stomach. Had I not myself seen and examined 
the objects, I would scarcely have credited the facts.” 
Having placed the specimen in what I believed to be safe cus- 
tody, I kept a strict watch over my suspected Hornbill, and a day or 
two afterwards was rewarded by a second and very perfect specimen 
of this extraordinary package of fruit. This I at once, after carefully 
examining the outside only, placed in spirits, and am now able to 
bring before the Meeting. Since I obtained these two specimens 
I have seen others, all from the same individual bird; but as the 
Lyre-bird and others were in the same aviary, these were mutilated 
and destroyed before I could save them. 
Now, notwithstanding all that has been advanced by my friend 
Dr. Murie, I beg leave to differ from him entirely ; and instead of 
this most wonderful body being the result of indigestion, disease, or 
derangement of any kind, I have no doubt it is the natural secretion 
that is provided for this bird during the breeding-season, and that 
it is the means by which the male Hornbill supplies the female 
bird with food during the time she is imprisoned by him while 
sitting upon the eggs in the hollow tree, in which, according to the 
most trustworthy authorities, the male builds up the entrance to the 
nest with clay. Dr. Livingstone was the first person, I believe, who 
called attention to this singular habit in the Hornbills; since then 
many other observers have confirmed the fact, both in Africa and 
India. Capt. Tickell speaks of it, saying that he “saw with his 
own eyes,” although he previously ‘‘ thought it was a fable.” The 
Rey. J. Mason, in his work on Burmah, says of the Concave Horn- 
bills, ‘‘ their nests are constructed in a superior manner of clay in the 
stumps or hollows of old trees. After the female has laid five or six 
eggs, the male bird shuts her entirely in with mud except a small 
hole, where she can only put out her head. Here she must sit 
during her incubation, for if she breaks through the inclosure her 
life pays the forfeit; but to compensate for the loss of freedom, her 
spirited mate is ever on the alert to gratify his dainty mistress, who 
