.; 



birds, eggs, beetles and all other insects, and also on the mandioca-roots and ginguba, or ground- 

 nuts. In confinement, he says, it would readily eat fish and entrails of fowls ; and once one of 

 these birds, meeting some young chickens in the yard, immediately gulped down five or six of 

 them. The Abba Gumba (by which name this species is known) feeds readily upon snakes ; and 

 their mode of attacking these, as related by Mr. Ayres, is peculiar. When a large serpent is 

 discovered, three or four of the birds stretch out their wings and advance sideways towards it. 

 The reptile, becoming irritated, seizes one by the wing-feathers, when all close around and strike 

 the snake with their powerful bills, retreating as soon as it leaves its hold. This proceeding is 

 repeated until their enemy is dead. Should the reptile attack them, they throw both wings 

 forward, completely covering their heads and other vulnerable parts. Two or three kinds of land- 

 tortoises frequenting the district of the Limpopo river are eaten by this Hornbill, which neatly 

 pecks out every portion of flesh from the shell, leaving it quite clean, even eating the legs and 

 head of the unfortunate creature. According to Layard, this species feeds on carrion ; and their 

 bodies emit such a stench in consequence that he never could induce any of his correspondents 

 to send him one. They also devour great quantities of grubs and locusts. The flight is heavy, 

 rather feeble, and somewhat noisy, and rarely prolonged for more than half a mile. The voice 

 of this bird is an extraordinary one, very deep and powerful, composed, according to Blanford, 

 of two notes — one, uttered chiefly on the ground, resembling the syllables hum-hum, the first 

 higher and longer than the last. The second note was a peculiar booming sound, so much like 

 the roar of the lion that it was with difficulty the two could be distinguished apart. They utter 

 this noise both when on the ground and on the trees, and it can be heard for a considerable 

 distance, particularly at night. Ayres compares the notes to the syllables coo-coo, and says that 

 he has heard it at a distance of nearly two miles. The call of the female is similar to that of the 

 male, but pitched a note or two higher. The male always calls first, the female immediately 

 answering ; and this is continued at intervals while they are feeding. 



The Ground-Hornbill is gregarious, going in flocks of from live or six individuals up to one 

 or two hundred, as stated by Monteiro. They are usually very shy and wild, and when alarmed 

 fly to the nearest trees, choosing those with the densest foliage, where they squat on the branches 

 or stand upright, quite motionless, with open bills. As soon as the object of their fears is 

 discovered, the usual cry is uttered by one of them, and all fly away to another tree. When 

 on the ground, and the grass is short, it is almost impossible to approach them. At a distance 

 they greatly resemble turkeys ; and the males have the habit of raising, then opening, and closing 

 their tails exactly like those birds ; the red wattle on the neck is also inflated, and becomes very 

 conspicuous. Although this species walks well, its gait is awkward, and it presents a curious 

 appearance as it goes slowly along, looking for food, turning over lumps of earth in search of 

 insects, or poking its bill at any frog or other reptile that it may meet. While the ground is the 

 chief resort of this species, over which Andersson says he has seen individuals running at a great 

 rate, yet at night it is accustomed invariably to resort to the trees to roost. This species does not, 

 I believe, incubate in the holes of trees, like other members of this family, but, according to 

 Monteiro, the nest is built on the very highest Adansonice, in the hollow or cavity formed at the 

 base or junction of the branches. 



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