DESCRIPTION OF THE BUCEROS 



M The black or red (according to sex) of the cutting edges begins to 

 show itself before the close of the 1st year, and is as abundant in quantity, 

 though less intense in hue, in the 2nd year as ever afterwards. Indeed, 

 the brittle edging of the bill, which is alone thus coloured, no sooner is 

 perfected than it begins to be rapidly destroyed, together with the serration 

 which belongs to it — an enigmatical circumstance — like, indeed, every 

 other connected with the purpose and use of this most remarkable organ. 



Dimensions of the mature male and female. 





Male. 



Female. 





Ft. In. 



Ft. In, 



Tip of bill to end of tail, ............. 





4 





Hi 



iO| 





3 



21 



Ditto basal breadth of, 



......... 21 



2i 





......... 7| 



6 





Ig 



li 





3.1 



3i 





1 6.1 



1 6 





5 10 



5 5 





31 



3 





......... 4 



3i 





mhs. 



lUhs. 





8|o-. 



caret. 



Valley of Nepal, Fehruary, 1832. 



REMARKS ON THE SKELETON OF THE HOMRAI BUCEROS. 



- The Bill consists of horny matter of considerable thickness, which 

 lies in close adaptation with the osseous structure beneath, and is con- 

 nected with it by means of a membrane, over which numerous small 

 blood vessels are distributed. 



The casket, (which is of large dimensions) has also its horny cover- 

 ing, though somewhat dijfFerent in structure, that of the former being 



