THE CROWNED HORNBILL 43 



hollow of a tree, and being of fair proportions 

 requires a hole large enough to admit its 

 body, which means that the aperture is open 

 to the incursion of wild cats and such-like 

 marauders with which the country is infested. 

 Now comes what appears extraordinary 

 intelligence on the part of the birds. When 

 incubation commences and the female has 

 taken up her position on the eggs, the male 

 bird, from the outside, plasters up the entrance 

 with a compost (chiefly excreta) which forms 

 an impervious cement ; but, at the same time, 

 he is careful to leave a narrow slit through 

 which his imprisoned spouse can just protrude 

 her bill. Here, incarcerated, she remains 

 throughout the period of incubation and until 

 the brood is fledged, whilst her faithful mate, 

 day after day, brings all they need in the form 

 of food, which is duly passed through the slit. 

 When the time comes the prison wall is hacked 

 out by the male bird, and the whole party 

 emerge. It will be seen that the bill of the 

 hornbill is a wonderful modification, doubtless 

 intended for the very purpose of breaking 

 down the concrete substance of the barrier. 

 All the hombills, of which there are many 

 species, have extraordinary bills, seemingly 

 out of all proportion to their persons, and 

 strongly suggest a pickaxe. 



