THE



57



Avicultural Magazine,


BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICULTURAL SOCIETY.



Third Series .—Vol. V.—No. 2. —All rights reserved. DECEMBER, 1913.



HORNBILLS.


By Graham Renshaw, M.B.


The curious birds known as Hornbills must be reckoned

amongst the rarities of aviculture. Quaint, intelligent, amusing,

they are unfortunately but little known to the private aviarist. Long

acquaintance with the principal European Zoos has shown the

present writer that comparatively few species are regularly exhibited :

even in dealers’ lists they figure spasmodically and uncertainly, but

two or three times a year. Apparently the finest collection of living

Hornbills is to be seen in the Gardens in Regent’s Park. For many

years the writer has taken a special interest in Hornbills, and has

found them to well repay the closest study.


Ground Hornbills present a remarkable appearance owing to

the ‘ eyelashes ” [modified feathers] which fringe the lids. Essen¬

tially terrestrial, when on the ground they suggest dishevelled,

monstrous turkeys with the nightmare beaks of Toucans. They

walk well, but are quite able to fly. Ground Hornbills in captivity

are exceedingly playful. They are fond of amusing themselves with

any small movable object such as an iron bar or rod, dancing round

it with much display of their wings. Probably they make believe

that their toy is a snake or other reptile, seizing and dropping it

repeatedly, as if to swiftly disable some dangerous prey. Two

species are recognised, one from Abyssinia {Bucorax ctbyssinicus),

the other from South Africa (B- cafer ).


The Black Hornbill (Sphagolobus atratus ) is a West African

species: one kept by the writer proved a most charming pet.



