











The present species, the A. malabaricus, and the A. convexus have been confused one with 

 another by different writers to an extraordinary degree. The A. convexus and the A. coronatus 

 are, indeed, closely allied; but there is a considerable difierence in their size, as well as in the 

 marking and shape of their casques, while their geograpical distribution is not at all the same. 

 The bird now under consideration was first described by Boddaert (I. c.) in 1783, from Buffon's 

 plate in the c Planches Enluminees ' of the Calao des 'Philippines. Scopoli followed shortly after- 

 wards (1786) with his Buceros pica, founded upon Sonnerat's plate of the Calao de la cote Malabar. 

 This figure, having the lateral rectrices entirely pure white, is evidently the same as Boddaert's 

 B. coronatus. Latham noticed that this was a different species from the B. malabaricus of Grmelin, 

 but contented himself by merely marking it var. /3 and y. Shaw (1811) conferred two more names 

 upon the luckless bird, viz. B. monoceros and B. violaceus, both of which have been about equally 

 followed by succeeding writers. Many authors have also employed Gmelin's term of malabaricus, 

 given to a very different, although allied species, one that never has the lateral rectrices entirely 

 white. 



The range of this species is confined to the peninsula of India and Ceylon. In the latter 

 country, Layard observed it at Tangalla, and near St. Pedro, generally in large flocks ; and Mr. 

 Holdsworth also met with it a few miles from Aripo ; and in the forest on the road between 

 Kandy and Trincomalie, he frequently saw small parties of this Hornbill. Jerdon says that five 

 or six usually compose the flocks seen in the Indian peninsula, and they generally keep in the 

 thick forest, and near water. 



The food of these birds is fruit — especially that of the Kuchla (Strychnos nux vomica), and 

 berries, which they swallow whole. They are also fond of the fruit of the banian and other figs. 

 In the jungles of Borabhum, Tickell says, they were very common, frequenting the Pipul trees, the 

 fruit of which formed their principal food. The allied species, A. malabaricus, is stated by Mr. 

 Inglis (' Stray Feathers,' vol v. p. 20) to be very fond of live fish, which it catches in shallow 

 pools. The way he discovered this predilection for an abnormal diet was as follows. He pos- 

 sessed a tame Otter and three tame Hornbills. At feeding-time the Otter was placed in a tub con- 

 taining live fish ; and these, when closely pressed, would jump out to escape from their pursuer, and 

 were immediately swallowed by the Hornbills. Mr. Inglis has also found bones of fish in the 

 stomachs of those birds which he had shot ; and the Nagas affirm that, when these Hornbills are 

 intent on fishing, they can be approached sufficiently close to be killed with a stick. I have not 

 seen it anywhere recorded that the present species is a fish-eater ; but it is not unlikely that it 

 would accept this kind of food as readily as the A. malabaricus. The eggs are deposited in holes of 

 trees, the female being, as usual, fastened in by her mate. The young keep with their parents 

 many months after leaving the nest. The voice of this species is loud and harsh ; and it is a very 

 noisy bird, at the same time shy and wary. According to Tickell, it is never met with in high 

 rocky lands, nor in barren tracks of saul-jungle, but abounds in the rich meadows composing the 

 valley of the Soubourika. Occasionally, says Jerdon, in forest country, they come out in open 

 spaces in the jungle to large fruit-bearing trees ; and Layard states they appear to be much on the 

 ground seeking food. The casque on the bill is not developed until after the first year. 



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