BYCANISTES CRISTATUS 



CBESTED HOENBILL 



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Buceros cristatus, Biipp. Faun. Abyss. (1835) vol. i. p. 3. tab. 1 ; id. Syst. Ueb. Vog. Nord-Ost-A£r. (1845) p. 79. 

 sp. 321; G. R. Gray, Gen. Birds (1849) vol. ii. p. 399; Von Hengl. Syst. Uebers. (1855) no. 457; Schleg. 

 Mus. Pays-B. (1862) p. 16; Sclat. Proc. Zool. Soc. (1864) p. Ill; Kirk, Ibis (1864) p. 326 ; Von HeugL 

 Jonrn. far Ornitli. (1864) p. 270; Finscb & Hartl. Reis. Ost-Afr. (1867) p. 482; Giebel, Thes. Ornith. (1872) 

 p. 497; Elliot, Ibis (1873) p. 178; Layard, B. of S. Afr. Sharpe's ed. (1875) p. 126. sp. 18. 



Bucorvus cristatus, Bon. Consp. Gen. Av. (1850) p. 89. sp. 4. 



Tmetoceros cristatus, Bon. Consp. Vol. Anisod. (1854) p. 2. 



Bycanistes cristatus, Cab. Mns. Hein. (1860) p. 172 (note) ; id. Von d. Deck. Reis. vol. iii. p. 38. 



Buceros (Bycanistes) cristatus, G. R. Gray, Hand-1. Birds (1870) pt. ii. p. 331. sp. 7912. 



Hab. Uganda (Speke) ; Abyssinia (Ruppell, Heuglin) ; Zambesi district (Kirk). 



This large and handsome bird, one of the most striking of the genus to which it belongs, has 

 as yet only been met with in eastern Africa, — probably, however, extending its range far into the 

 interior ; for Capt. Speke obtained it in Uganda. As it has not been procured anywhere on the 

 western coast, we may feel pretty confident it does not cross the continent. This species has never 

 received a second appellation, and its synonymy is without confusion. According to Kirk it is a local 

 species, common on the river Shire, goes in large flocks, and roosts regularly in the same place. 

 The natives say that the female hatches her eggs in a hole undergo und, in which she is fastened by 

 the male. On coming to roost they appear always to keep in pairs, and perch on the branches, of 

 the large trees, and generally fly away an hour before sunrise. A male that Dr. Kirk shot at, 

 though uninjured, fell from fear, and was secured and taken on board ship. The female came 

 for her mate every morning and evening, hovering over the vessel and calling for him to follow. 

 Although at first he took food, after five days he became sulky, would eat nothing, and died. 



Male. — Bill curved, black, yellow at base ; gonys straight for two thirds its length from 

 base, when it turns abruptly upwards, and then follows the curve of the gape to the point. An 

 enormous casque rises a short distance from the tip of the bill, inclines forwards, and then curves 

 backwards to near the centre of the head, returning to the base of the maxilla in a steep angle. The 

 anterior end of this, together with the lower sides and posterior terminus, is black, the remaining 

 portion bright yellow. Towards the base of the bill and reaching up the sides of the casque are 

 several irregular roughened stria?, disappearing towards the ridge. Head covered with a rather long 

 loose crest, and, together with the mantle, breast, and wings, black, with green reflections. In 

 some adult specimens the centres of the feathers on the cheeks and sides of crest are greyish white. 





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