BUCER0TIDJ2. 241 



tvhich they swallow whole, tossing it up in the air after separa- 

 ting it from the tree, and catching it again. They generally, if the 

 morsel be lai'ge, rub it Avell between their mandibles, before 

 swallowing it. In captivity they will eat small birds, mice, meat, 

 rice, or any thing that is offered to them. It is said that some of 

 the African species live on reptiles, beetles, and even on carrion ; 

 the very particular Ahba Gumba, Bruce, (Bucorvue Ahyssinicus,) 

 walking, and even running on the ground; and attacking snakes 

 which it beats down with its wings. Unlike all the others, this 

 African bird has elongated tarsi. They nestle in holes of trees, 

 laying three or four white eggs ; and, in the Indian species,* the 

 male bird plasters the female up in the hole with mud, only 

 allowing her bill to protrude, by which he feeds her. 



The Hornbills are mostly forest-birds ; in India, one species only 

 frequenting gardens, groves of trees, and avenues. They are very 

 arboreal, rarely alighting on the ground, and they pass actively 

 enough about the branches of trees. . The flight of some is an 

 alternation of rapid strokes, and a sailing with out-spread wings : 

 in others, it is performed by continuous heavy flapping. The voice 

 of most of them is harsh. Several species occur in Africa. Others 

 in India, and more especially in Malayana, in which province they 

 are greatly developed. 



This family has usually been placed among the Conirostres, from 

 their large size, and alleged omnivorous diet ; but their feet differ 

 very much from the perfect-footed Crows, and resemble closely 

 those of the Kingfishers and Bee-eaters, at the end of which, indeed, 

 Cuvier classed them. They are certainly a somewhat isolated 

 group, but they, nevertheless, show afhnitles, more or less strong, 

 to other families. They may be said to approach the Crows, 

 through some of the African species which have the tarsus length- 

 ened, and are said to run on the ground, and eat carrion, on the 

 one side, and the large-billed Crows, Corvultur, on the other- 

 They have a considerable general resemblance to the Toucans 

 among the Scansores, but they differ considerably from the true 



* Livingstone remarks the same of the African, and states that the females, 

 while thus immured, become very fat, and are much sought as a dainty morsel. 



2 n 



