ROLLERS, KINGFISHERS, HORNBILLS, AND HOOPOES 505 



fhtic k, If. P. Dando, F.Z.S.] \_Rigint', Park 



CONCAVE-CASQUED HORNBILL, INDIA 



The fwise made hy hornbilh on the luing is said to resemble that of a steam etigin 



decidedly brutal. The tree is scaled, 



the resin-like substance is broken 



away, and the frightened bird flies 



from her nest up the hollow trunk 



of the tree, but is ignominiously 



brought down by means of a thorny 



stick (the thorns point downward), 



which is thrust after and twisted 



about until a firm grip in her 



plumage is obtained. The Dyaks, 



ne\'er \'ery faithful observers of 



nature, believe that the female is 



shut up by the male, so that after 



hatching her eggs she may die, 



the maggots in her putrefj'ing body 



affording food for the \'0ung. One 



very curious habit of the rhinoceros- 



hornbill which I have not hitherto 



seen noted is the rapid jumping 



up and down on a branch with both feet together. This jumping motion is imitated by the 



Kyans and Dyaks in their dances, the figure being known to the Kyans as ' wan blingong.' " 



That the Hoopoes, unlike as the}' may be in general appearance, are nevertheless 

 intimately related to the Hornbills there can be no doubt. Graceful in contour and pleasing 

 in coloration, it is a pity that the species which so frequently visits Britain, and has on 

 more than one occasion nested there, should be so ruthlessly shot down immediately its 

 presence is discovered. Save the wings and tail, the body is of a light cinnamon colour, whilst 

 the head is surmounted by a magnificent crest of black-and-white-tipped feathers, which can 

 be raised or depressed at the pleasure of the bird : the excepted portions of the phmiage — the 

 wings and tail — arc buff, varied with bands of black and white. Thus it may be truthfully 

 said to be a conspicuously coloured bird ; yet this same livery seems also to come under the 

 head of protective coloration, for we are assured that, when danger threatens, the bird throws 

 itself flat upon the ground, spreads out its ^\•ings, and at once becomes transformed into what 

 rather resembles a heap of rags than a bird. Escape by flight, howc\'cr, instead of subterfuge, 



seems also at times to be resorted to, 

 since, when pursued by a falcon, it will 

 mount rapidly to a great height, and 

 not seldom eftcct its escape. 



The domestic habits of the hoopoe 

 are, ho\\'e\'er, b_\' no means so charming 

 as one would expect to find in so beauti- 

 ful a bird. " All observers agree," \\Tites 

 Professor Newton, " in stating that it 

 delights to find its food among filth of 

 the most abominable description, and 

 this especially in its -winter quarters. 

 But where it breeds, its nest — usually in 

 the hole of a tree or of a wall — is not 

 onl)' partly composed of the foulest 

 materials, but its condition becomes 

 worse as incubation proceeds, for the 

 hen scarcely ever leaves her eggs, being 

 assiduousl}' fed by the cock as she sits 



P/i«;« ir Scholastic PhoK. Co ] [Fin n , Gr„n 



GROUND-HORNBILL 



The legs of the ground-hornbill are much longer than those of its allies 



64 



