3$o H O R N B I L L; 



inner toe fhorteft; the two outmofttoes conne&ed to the middle 

 one as far as the firft joint i the wings reach beyond the hafe of 

 the tail. 



Place, &e. This defcription is taken from a perfect fpecimen now laying 



before me, which came from the Eaft-Indies, and is in the col- 

 lection of Captain Davies. Buff on defcribes one, which was alive 

 in IP arts during the fummer of 1777, and came from Pondicherry. 

 This was of the fame fize with our fpecimen, and fuppofed to 

 be near three feet in length; but the gibbofity of the bill an 

 inch and an half longer, and was fuppofed to have had ftill 

 half an inch more in length, as it had received an injury : 

 the bill itfelf blunt at the end, and eight inches long : the eye 

 was of a red brown, and the bare fkin round it black : the 

 bird could ereft or deprefs the creft at will : the tail differed 

 much, for it had four of the middle feathers black the whole 

 length, and the reft of the feathers white, except at the baley 

 where they were black : the legs black, fcaly : the claws long and 

 blunt. 



Manners. The manners of this bird were peculiar: it would leap for- 



wards, or fideways, with both legs at once, like a Magpie, or Jay, 

 never walking : when at reft, it folded its head back between the 

 wings : the general air and appearance was rather ftupid and 

 dull, though it would fometimes put on a fierce look, if at any 

 time it was furprized,. or the like : it would eat lettuce, after 

 bruifing them with its bill, and fwallow raw flejh -, as well as de- 

 vour rats, mice, a.ndfmall birds, if given to him : it had different 

 tones of voice on different occafions; fometimes a hoarfe found.in 

 the throat, moil like ouck, ouck ; at other times very hoarfe and 

 weak, not unlike the clucking of a Turkey Hen. This bird ufed 

 to difplay the wings, and enjoy itfelf in a warm fun, but fhivered 



hit 



