324 HORN-BILL. 



on the edges; colour pale brown, towards the point yellowish ; on the 



top, at the base, begins an appendage, which in old subjects is an 



inch in height, and divided into several segments ; round the eye a 



bluish, wrinkled skin ; the throat is also naked ; on the eyelids a few 



long hairs ; the rest of the head, beyond the eyes, pale rufous brown, 



the feathers elongated, so as to form a sort of a crest ; round the neck 



paler, inclining to buff-colour ; body in general and wings black, 



with a greenish gloss ; tail cuneiform, dirty white ; legs deep blue, 

 or black. 



The female differs, having the head and neck equally black with 

 the rest of the plumage, in other respects is like the male. 



The young bird is destitute of the appendage on the top of the 

 bill, and the edges of it quite smooth ; the bare space round the eye 

 and chin paler in colour ; and the plumage much as in the adult. 



On consulting the various authors who have given figures of these 

 birds, or the bill, we find the wreathed appendage to consist of from 

 five to seven indentations. In Dampier, there are seven ; in Wil- 

 lughby the same ; in D'Entrecasteaux, only five. 



This species is by some supposed to be peculiar to Java, but 

 Dampier met with it at Ceram, and others at Ceylon, and elsewhere • 

 hence, we may suppose it to be a native of several places in India. 

 Some have thought that the name of Year's bird may have taken rise 

 from the time of its appearance, at a particular season ; but it seems 

 rather to have originated from the annual increase in number of the 

 folds of the bill, and that those in which they are most numerous are 

 the oldest birds. 



A fine and complete specimen, supposed a female, is in the 

 Museum of the India-House, in London. In this the bill has five 

 folds on the top, and of a box-colour; round the eye bare, as well as 

 a pouch under the throat ; the head tufted at the back part ; plumage 

 wholly fine glossy black, except the tail, which is entirely white ; 

 legs dusky black. 



This last was brought from Java. 



