136 



cassell's book of birds. 



the hole where she incubates with mud (Baker says with its ordure), leaving only room for her bill to 

 protrude and receive food from his. This, Major Trikell, whose words I cjuote, has seen with his 

 own eyes. Mason, in his work on Burmah, makes the following statement : — ' The female must sit 

 during her incubation, for if she breaks through the enclosure her life pays the forfeit ; but, to 

 compensate for the loss of freedom, her spirited mate is ever on the watch to gratify his dainty 

 misti-ess, who compels him to bring all her viands unbroken, for if a fig or other fruit be injured she 



THE HOMRAY (Dichoceros hicornis). 



will not touch it.' This account, I must own, I regard as a native story, and improbable. Fruit 

 forms the only food of this, as of other Indian Hornbills, and it always seizes it whole, tossing it in 

 the air before swallowing it, and catching it again in its mouth. Mr. Elliot remarks of this species 

 that a small sac is placed at the root of the tail, in which is a bundle or pencil of short bristles, 

 forming a bnish, from whence exudes a yellow oily secretion, with which the birds appear to dress 

 their white wing-feathers. When first shot the yellow colour comes off the bill in considerable 

 quantities, and the only parts of the body besides that are stained with this colour are the white 

 wing-spot, the rump, and the small crest at the back of the head, this latter but slightly. The yellow 



