Nature in the formation of this lingular beak, is not 

 yet clearly investigated 3 it has been fuppofed, (and not 

 without a considerable degree of probability) that the 

 birds of this genus, having fome very powerful enemies, 

 with which they may have occafional conflicts, are 

 provided with this immoderate beak as a defenfive 

 weapon. 



In moft of the fpecies, the prominent part on the up- 

 per mandible is of a ftraight form; but in the prefent 

 fpecies it is turned backwards in a moft fmgular man- 

 ner ; and it is from this circumftance that the bird has 

 obtained its common title of Rhinoceros-bird. It is a 

 native of the Eaft-Indies, and is often found in Suma- 

 tra and Java, and the Philippine Iflands. It is faid to 

 feed on carrion, and to be particularly fond of the en- 

 trails of animals. 



This bird is not much inferior in lize to a turkey, and 

 its colours are as reprefented in the plate; viz. black 

 and white. The beak is about ten inches long, and the 

 horn or curved procefs on the upper part, is marked by 

 •a longitudinal line of black. The upper mandible is 

 red atthebafe, and of a whitiih yellow as it approaches 

 the tip. The lower one is of a pale colour, with a 

 black bafe. 



