20 A FIRST LIST OF THE BIRDS 



it continued plentiful during the cold months, but disappeared 

 about the 1st of March. This year it again returned in large 

 numbers about the 10th November. 



It frequents thick jungle, and from 10 to 20 are generally 

 to be seen together ; one of its most distinct calls " pee, pee, 

 pee, pee, pee," can be heard nearly a mile distant. — J. I." 



140. — Dichoceros cavatus, Shaw. (Fide Vol. IV., 

 p. 385.) 



" The great Indian Hornbill, although not a resident, is 

 oftener seen and spoken about than any other bird in Cachar. 



" During the dry weather they are continually migrating to 

 the south, and during the rains to the north. The noise majie by 

 their wings attracts attention at a great distance. They mostly 

 fly in 5's and 7's, but as many as 30 are sometimes seen together. 

 A good shot at them can only be had by waiting patiently on 

 some height, where they fly low. A windy day is most 

 favourable for bagging them. They afford splendid eating 

 far superior to any fowl or pheasant. — J. I." 



In some specimens the outline of the edge of the casque 

 viewed from in front is nearly a half circle, in others it is 

 nearly straight with only a slight central depression. 



These differences, I am satisfied, are individual and not speci- 

 fic—See further Vol. IV., p. 385. 



142. — Hydrocissa albirostris, Shaw. 



" Very common, feeds on fruits, is also passionately fond 

 of live fishes,* which it catches in shallow pools. The hill 

 tribes often bring down young birds ; they are too easily tamed 

 and soon become a great nuisance. 



"You may consider it strange that a Hornbill should 

 eat fish. The way I first discovered the predilection of these 

 birds for this apparently abnormal article of diet was as 

 follows : — 



" I had a tame Otter, and at the same time three tame Horn- 

 bills. The Otter was fed several times a day in a large tub 

 containing live fish. Some of these latter, when closely pressed 

 by the Otter, used to jump clean out of the tub, and these the 

 Hornbills always gobbled up in a twinkling. 



" Once it happened that the Otter got hold of a fish by its 

 head, while one of the Hornbills seized it by the tail. The 

 struggle was very amusing; the Otter proved the stronger, and 



* Strange as this statement of Mr. Inglis' may seem, I know of a somewhat 

 parallel case. Berenicomis comatus feeds habitually on the ground, greedily 

 devouring lizards and the like. 



