MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 307 



No. II —THE GREAT INDIAN HORNBILL IN CAPTIVITY. 



{With two Plates.} 



In August, 1894, just three years ago, Mr. H. Ingle of Karwar presented to 

 our Society a young male specimen of the Great Indian Hornbill (DicJwceros 

 bicornis), which was then apparently about four months old. It was fairly 

 tame when it arrived, and was ready to make friends with any one who fed 

 it, and especially with those who could find time to play with it occasionally. 



Since its arrival it has grown steadily, both in stature and in friendliness, 

 and may now be said to be quite a popular character in Bombay society, 

 where, owing to the brilliant yellow colouring of its huge beak, and the posi- 

 tion it has gained for itself as a member of the Museum Staff, it is familiarly 

 referred to as the " Office Canary." 



The accompanying photographs were taken some months ago by Mr. E 4 

 Comber, and they convey a very fair idea of the shape and plumage of this 

 curious bird r but in the back view the white tip of the tail has unfortunately 

 come out quite dark, owing to a shadow, while the brilliant yellow colour of 

 the neck feathers, the casque, and the upper part of the beak must, of 

 course, be imagined. The bird may now be considered to be fully grown, as 

 it measures 4'-3" from the tip of its beak to the extremity of its tail, but the 

 front part of the casque is still perfectly flat on the top, whereas in adult 

 specimens it is deeply concave. The irides also are now only just beginning 

 to assume the blood-red colour which is one of the characteristics of the full- 

 grown male. 



Its food consists of plantains (which it swallows whole when hungry) and 

 all sorts of jungle fruit, such as banyan berries, and wild figs, but it is always 

 glad of live lizards, mice, scorpions, snails, beetles, and centipedes, and when 

 such animal food is not forthcoming we give it small pieces of raw meat, 

 which it eats with avidity. When it first came, water was placed in its cage 

 daily, but as it never made any use of it, either for bathing or drinking, we 

 gave up the practice, and have long since ceased to give the bird any liquid 

 food. It appears, however, to enjoy the rain, which drives into its cage 

 with full force during the monsoon months. 



It is suspicious of strangers, and inclined to be savage, striking viciously at 

 them, against the wire netting of its cage, but to those with whom it is 

 familiar, it is exceedingly gentle and exhibits a considerable display of affec- 

 tion by attempting to put food into one's mouth, and by other birdlike 

 endearments. It never appears to get tired of playing, and the way in which 

 it catches a tennis ball when thrown at it, with considerable force, from a 

 distance of 30 feet, excites the admiration of all our Museum visitors. 



It never makes any noise unless it is hungry, and then it shouts for its food 

 in a loud, braying, rasping voice, which can be heard all over the building 

 and which quickly summons its attendant, 

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