THE SEARCHERS. 



139 



bare, and very brightly coloured. In the wing the sixth quill is longer than the rest. The entire 

 plumage, except six yellowish white primary quills, is of a glossy black, the eye is dark browTi, and the 

 beak black, with a red and yellow spot on its upper mandible. The eye-rings and throat are dark 

 grey, the latter bordered with bright red. The female is smaller than her mate, and has only a 

 comparatively small portion of her neck bare. The length of the male is forty-three inches and a half, 







THE ABnACAMBA, OR ABYSSINIAN HORNBILL [Bucorax Jfyssitth-lis). 



and his breadth seventy inches ; the wing measures twenty-one inches and three-quarters, and die tail 

 thirteen inches and a half 



This remarkable bird is found over a large portion of Africa, and is common in Abyssinia, where 

 it subsists principally on a large beetle that abounds in the Teff fields at certain seasons. In some 

 parts of the continent it is regarded with superstitious veneration, and is known as the Tier el Naciba, 

 or Bird of Destiny. So strong, indeed, is this feeling among the natives, diat they will not permit an 

 Abbagamba to be killed near their dwellings, lest they should lose their flocks and cattle by disease ; 

 under any circumstances, however, this species is but little liable to molestation, as tlie disgusting 

 stench emitted by its body renders a near approach to it almost impossible. During the breeding 

 season the Abyssinian Hornbills live in pairs, but after that period wander about the fields in pai'ties 



