



it 



trait by shouting, beating drums, and firing matchlocks whenever they see these birds flying over 

 their villages. They immediately become bewildered, and descend to the nearest tree for shelter, 

 sometimes even to the ground, and are killed by arrows, occasionally by sticks. Mr. Hodgson's 

 statement that this species closes its abode in a tree by a curiously contrived door I have not seen 

 corroborated by any other naturalist. In e Stray Feathers ' for 1875, p. 210, Mr. Gammie 

 describes a nest and egg of this species at Poomong, in Sikhim. The tree was a species of 

 Dysoxylon, about 80 feet high; and under the lowest branch there was a slit, which was the 

 entrance to the bird's house. On each side of the slit was a quantity of plaster, which had 

 evidently been placed there by the female, and which did not meet in any part. At the top of the 

 slit was a round hole ; and from this to the bottom the opening was about two inches broad. The 

 entrance, after the plaster was removed, was seventeen inches in length, by four and a half in 

 breadth, and the hollow of the tree seventeen inches in diameter. In the hole were merely a few 

 of the bird's feathers. The egg was an oval, compressed at one end, and slightly pyriform. The 

 shell was strong and thick, coarse, without gloss, and pitted with minute pores. In colour it was 

 dirty white, with a yellowish tinge, and everywhere obscurely stippled with minute purer white 

 specks. It measured 22*5 by 1*75. The plaster, as examined by Dr. D. Cunningham under the 

 microscope, was entirely composed of vegetable tissue, cells, fibres, oil-globules, &c, and contained 

 no clay or mineral matter of any kind. The vegetable tissue appeared semidigested, many cells 

 being wholly or partially emptied of their contents, and free granules and globules of a bright 

 yellow oily-looking matter abounding. The most abundant and characteristic forms of cells 

 present were : — 1st, small, totally empty, thick- walled cells, scattered or still holding together in 

 small patches ; 2nd, large rounded cells, full of the yellow oily matter so abundant in the free 

 state, and of a deep brown colour. Their contents were rather of a gummy than oily nature, as 

 boiling with liquor potassce reduced the material to a glutinous mass, of a deep brown colour. 

 There were also present in small numbers fragments of feathers, spores of fungi, &c. Prom this 

 analysis it would seem evident, as stated by Mr. Hume, that the plaster was but the bird's own 

 ordure, with which she closed the opening to her nest, leaving an aperture only sufficiently wide 

 to receive food from the male. A heap at the foot of the tree of rejected droppings was of the 

 same composition as the plaster, but with fewer of the gummy globules and a larger proportion 

 of feathers, &c. Nothing is mentioned of a door ; and in this case, at least, it is evident the 

 species closed the entrance to the nest in the same manner as do the other members of this 

 family. The male was seen to feed the female with the fruit of the Dysoxylon tree. 



The usual position assumed by this Hornbill, according to Tickell, is a kind of squat, with 

 ruffled neck-feathers, the neck drawn in between the high shoulders of the wings, and the tail 

 either erect like a Magpie's, or dropped down. At such times the bird has a very stupid 

 appearance. It is, however, when in the act of dressing its plumage that this handsome species 

 appears to most advantage. Then it rises on its feet, exposing the strong legs, the shoulders of 

 the wings are projected, and the neck extended and arched backwards, giving to the bird "some 

 of the graces and even terrors of the noble birds of prey." In disposition this Hornbill is gentle, 

 but not deficient in spirit ; and when captive, although it dislikes them, it views with indifference 





