342 



EASTERN ETHIOPIA 



XXVIII 



material dries ib hardens like cement. There are many 

 facts to be ascertained in regard to the process by 

 which the hen is immured. It is illustrated by an 

 actual specimen of the Crowned Hornbill, in the 

 admirable Nesting Scries in the Natural History 

 Museum, London. Dr. Schonlaud, vvho obtained the 

 specimen, states that this bird moults before being 



Tlif (Iroiind Hornbill [Bncorntf:) has modified feathers, like 

 lashes, on its eyelids, «liieh give this bird a weird 

 liumari expression, especially when screwing up its 

 eyelids as it quizzes an onlooker. 



imprisoned, and not only sheds the short feathers, but 

 the quills of the wings and tail. This curious habit of 

 immuring the sitting hen has been observed of horn- 

 bills in India (Tickell) and in Burma (Mason) as well 



as 



i>y 



Livingstone in Afri 



ica. 



The observations in 



regard to the African species have been confirmed by 

 Schonland, and for the Asian species by Wallace in 

 Sumatra. It has been suggested that the object in 

 immuring the hen during incubation is to protect her 

 from the attacks of monkeys and other enemies. 



