Marvels of the Universe 



289 



India and Ceylon that they originated the mvth of the Phcenix : though how thej' came to be 

 associated with fire and immortahty I cannot say. But the Arab and mediaeval Italian accounts 

 of the " Phcenix Bird " of Ceylon and Malaysia can all be traced back to an exaggerated description 

 of one or other species of HornbiU ; and there is said to be still amongst the Crown jewels of the 

 Sultan of Turkey a cup which is carved out of the solid helmet of a Malay Hornbill, and is 

 described as being made " from the beak of a Phoenix." In this species both beak and casque are 

 solid and have the appearance of ivory ; but in all the other Hornbills the swollen part of the upper 

 mandible, and, above all, the helmet or casque, are hollow ; that is to say, the structure is a series 

 of cells with light pithy walls, so that the monstrous beak and its excrescence are much lighter to 

 earn,' than they appear. Another species of Hornbill found in India and Malaysia has a double 

 casque on the top of its beak divided into two horns, while a kindred form here illustrated has the 

 beak and casque of a bright brick-red colour, the casque being curved like a crescent and conse- 

 quently apt to be manufactured into an ornamental sword-hilt by the natives. 



The big Rhinoceros Hornbill, which is here illustrated in two forms, has the beak yellow-white 

 in colour. The casque, which is coloured red, orange and black, is curved crescent-shaped in the 

 Indian form, and in another species or sub-species found in the Malay Islands it is very large, and 

 straight along the top. In the great Ground Hornbills of Africa — which have developed long legs 

 and bear a misleading resemblance to turkeys — the casque is abruptly truncated at the end as 

 though it had been chopped in half by an axe, and the sides are curiously undulating. 



But less than half the species of this extraordinary group (which amongst other peculiarities 

 develops thick black eyelashes) have no casque on the top of their beaks, though there may be a 



liy permUnon. of] 



[air [I. II. Johnstcn. 



THE NIPAL HORNBILL. 



This bird is remarl:able for the peculiar notches in the beak. Although they have the appearance of teeth they do not 

 seem to be used for the purpose of mastication, as all food ie S'watlo'wcd whole. 



