• ■*»f 



TOCKUS FLAVIROSTRIS. 



YELLOW-BILLED HORNBILL. 





Buceros flavirostris, Rupp. Faun. Abyss. (1835) vol. i. p. 6, tab. 2. fig. 2; O. R. Gray, Gen. Birds (1849) vol ii 

 p. 400. sp. 36; Pinsch & Hartl. Reis. Ost-Afr. (1867) p. 490; Ayres, Ibis (1871) p. 260. .p. 128; Schie* 

 Mns. Pays-B. (1862) p. 14; Von Heugl. Jonrn. fur Ornith. (1864) p. 271 ; Finseh, Trans. Zool. Soc vol vfi 

 p. 279 ; Giebel, Thesaur. Ornith. (1872) p. 498. 



Tockus flavirostris, Bon. Consp. Gen. Av. (1850) p. 92. sp. 12; id. Consp. Vol. Anisod. (1854) p 3- Horsf & 

 Moore, Cat. B. Mns. E.-Ind. Co. (1856-8) vol. ii. p. 596. sp. 877; Gurney, Anderss. Birds of Damara Land 

 (1872) p. 210; G. R. Gray, Hand-1. Birds (1870) pt. ii. p. 129. sp. 7894; Sharpe, Cat. Afr. Birds, no 77 ■ 

 Rupp. Syst. Uebers. Vog. N.O.-Afr. (1845) p. 79. sp. 324; Layard, B. of S. Afr., Sharpe's ed. (1875) p. 130* 

 sp. 121. 



Toccus elegans, Hartl. Proc. Zool. Soc. (1865) p. 86, pi. iv.j Bocage, Journ. Sc. Math. Lisb. (1868) vol. ii p 347 

 sp. 99. 



Toccus flavirostris, Barb, du Bocage, Journ. Sc. Math. Lisb. torn. iii. (1871) p. 270. sp. 16. 

 Tockus elegans, Bocage, Journ. Sc. Math. Lisb. torn. i. (1866) p. 335. 



Hab. Abyssinia, Namaqualand, Damaraland (Andersson) ; Transvaal (Ayres) ; Kuruman, Kanye (Eyton). 



This bird has a very wide distribution, having been obtained from Abyssinia on the east to 

 Damaraland on the west ; and probably it will be found throughout the interior as our knowledge 

 of the African avifauna is increased by future explorers. It is a well-marked bird, and conspi- 

 cuous for its broad yellow bill. Hartlaub redescribed it in the < Proceedings ' of the Zoological 

 Society as T. elegans, from specimens obtained by Monteiro. Andersson states that it is the most 

 common of the Hornbills in Middle and Southern Damaraland. It is not gregarious, but is seen 

 singly or in pairs, and, being rather fearless, is easily approached, especially during the heat of the 

 day. At such times it resorts to the top of some tree, and keeps up a subdued chattering note of 

 " toe, toe, tocke tbche, tbeke toe," in a tone not unlike the yelpings of young puppies, at the same 

 time napping its wings and bowing its head. He says that in adult birds there is a considerable 

 difference of size ; the irides are yellow, legs and toes very dark brown. Speke states that this 

 species is common in the Somali country, where it is fond of being in the jungle-trees, and is 

 very noisy about sunrise, making a sound not unlike that of a frog. 



Adult.— Bill much curved, no casque ; upper part of maxilla much compressed laterally ; 

 orange-yellow, except along the commissure and tips, which are reddish brown. Top of head and 

 neck dark leaden grey. Over the eye a broad white stripe. Throat and side of neck bare, yellow. 

 Back brownish black, a line of white down the centre. The feathers of upper part of breast and 

 wing-coverts are black, with a conspicuous white blotch near the tip. Secondaries light rufous- 

 brown on the three innermost ones ; next two white, irregularly marked with blackish brown ; 





