206 BIRDS OF DAMAEA LAND. 



Tmetoceros ahyssinicus, Finsch & Hartlaub's Vogel Ost-Afrika's, 



p. 480. 

 Bucorvus abyssinicuS) Blanford's Geol. & Zool. of Abyssinia, p. 330. 



This species is common in Ondonga, but very wild ; 

 and I have also observed it sparingly in the desert near 

 the Okavango. 



The ground seems to be the chief resort of these 

 birds, and I have seen them running at a tremendous 

 rate ; but they also perch on trees when flushed. They 

 utter at times an incessant kind of booming cry, which 

 may be heard a long way off. They are generally 

 seen in small flocks of from tliree to six individuals. 



The Ovampos seem to have a superstition about this 



curious bird, which I cannot fathom. On asking Chij- 



kongo, for instance, to get me the eggs, he said it was 



not to be done, as they were soft to the touch, and 



would fall in pieces on the least handling ! 



[Professor Schlegel, in his ' Museum des Pays-Bas/ Buceros, 

 p. 19j expresses his opinion that the Abyssinian^ the West- 

 African, and the South-African races of this bird are always 

 distinguishable from each other; but Drs. Finsch and Hartlaub 

 Hoc. cit.) maintain the contrary view. I have not had the 

 opportunity of comparing a sufficient number of specimens from 

 these various quarters to enable me satisfactorily to offer an 

 opinion on the subject. Mr. Layard [loc. cit.) refers to a native 

 superstition respecting this bird, probably somewhat similar to 

 that alluded to by Mr. Andersson. — Ed.] 



251. Tockus nasutus (Linn.). Took Hornbill. 



Le Calao nasique, Levaillant's Ois. d'Afr. pis. 23G & 237. 

 Buceros nasutus, Strickland & Sclater, Birds Daniar., Contr. Orn. 

 p. 155. 



Buceros epirhinus, Sundevall, Ofvers. 1850, p. 108. 



