499 



Jiceros itdieUt. 



My friend Mr. Elliot was anxious to obtain good speci- 

 mens of Ocyceros (Anorhinus) tickelli to figure for his splendid 

 work on the Hornbills, so I specially deputed my Assistant 

 Curator, Mr. Darling-, to the only place where I know that they 

 occur, and after much trouble he succeeded id securing a 

 series. 



We are now in a position to speak with greater certainty 

 about Anorhinus austeni. Referring to what I said (p. 167), it 

 will be remembered that I concluded that this was too large 

 to be identified with tickelli. 



The following dimensions recorded in the flesh by Mr. 

 Darling hardly support that conclusion : — 



? 28 39 122 11-4 



2 28-5 38-5 12 115 



$ 28-6 39 12-3 11 



So far, therefore, as size is concerned, the two might not 

 impossibly be the same bird, but with fifteen specimens, seven 

 males and eight females, before me, I am able to say positively 

 that, if Major Godwin-Austen's description was accurate — and 

 I have myself no doubt that it was so — then A. austeni is 

 distinct from A. tickelli. 



As I said before (p. 168) austeni must have been a male : 

 all my male tickelli, young and old, have the bill pale yellow ; 

 all the females have it blackish brown to brownish dusky. 



In no specimen, male (or female) of tickelli, are the " throat 

 and sides of the neck white"" as in austeni, nor does any single 

 specimen exhibit any trace of, or tendency towards, such a 

 coloration. 



In no specimen of either sex of tickelli are the " bases of 

 the primaries white,'" or the primaries themselves (i barred with 

 white," both of which are said to be the case with A. austeni. 



Of course, if Godwin-Austen, for once in his life in 

 regard to this one particular bird, has written a wron"* 

 description, austeni and tickelli may be identical, but this 

 being highly improbable, I at present feel no doubt that the two 

 are distinct. 



