HOMRAI OF THE HIMALAYA. 



173 



present paper is, I believe, doubtful : but I can only say that the stomach 

 is single, simple, pretty capacious, thin in its coats, and possessed of very 

 moderate rugosity on its internal surface ; and that the intestines are 

 rather less than three times the length of the body, from the occiput to 

 the rump ; not obviously distinguishable, by difference of size or other- 

 wise, in the different parts ; and of such capacity or diameter as just to 

 admit the insertion of the fore finger, I fear that the foregoing remarks 

 respecting the habits in respect to food of the birds of this singular Genus 

 will, to some, appear tedious and prolix. But whoever is aware of the 

 strict analogy between structure and habits which prevails throughout 

 animated nature, will receive indulgently every attempt to remove errors 

 as well as to contribute facts relative to the most important of the habits 

 of a large groupe of birds which are so singularly formed that we are apt 

 to regard their structure as monstrous and anomalous. 



I proceed now with the description of the species before me, of which 

 I possess ten specimens, showing both sexes in maturity, and the young 

 in various stages of progression towards it. From a comparison of these 

 I am led to conclude that the body of the Homrai does not reach its full 

 size under two or three years, and that the bill and casque, especially the 

 latter, are not perfectly developed ni less than four or five years. 



At birth, the young have no casque. The developement of this 

 appendage to the bill commences from behind ; and, in the posterior part, 

 is tolerably distinct as to form by the close of the first year; whilst, ante- 

 riorly, there is no distinction hut lliat of colour between the casque and the 

 ridge of the bill. In the second year, the lore part of tiie casque begins 

 to rise and spread itself out above hill; hut docs not accpiire its full 

 dimensions and characteristic shape till the fourth or fifth year, as will be 

 more particularly noticed hereafter in speaking of the young. 



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