THE CLOWNS OF THE FOREST 91 
leopard, a pied hornbill alighted on the tree in which I 
was hidden. After having screamed a short solo, he 
caught sight of me, and although he was within three 
yards of my machan he did not fly off in alarm, but 
just cocked his head on one side and winked at me in 
the most familiar manner. I was not surprised ; nothing 
done by a hornbill could ever surprise me. 
When coolies are beating the jungle for game the 
hornbills of the neighbourhood usually follow the line, 
passing from branch to branch overhead, apparently 
enjoying the fun. These facts seem to negative the 
idea that the birds are shy. 
The flight of the hornbill is characteristic. It consists 
of one or two rapid flaps of the wings, followed by a 
bout of sailing, with the wings expanded and motionless. 
Thus the line of flight is composed of a series of undu- 
lations. 
Hornbills seem to be gregarious birds. They buffoon 
through life in little companies of six or seven. Fifteen 
species of these weird creatures are to be found in the 
Indian region. Of these, three patronize the “ Bombay 
side.” 
