82 



JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. IT., PART I. 



the genuine Sy sterna animalium, with all its infinities and 

 analogies as concatenated and contrasted by its Great 

 Author." 



Agreeing entirely with the view here taken by the learned 

 writer, I have, since my residence in the Island, sought to 

 gain an intimate acquaintance with its animal productions. 

 And that the small amount of knowledge thus acquired 

 should not be quite useless, but haply serve jas a stepping- 

 stone for others, I prefer giving it at once to the public, 

 rather than await perfection, which, in a study of this nature, 

 is never attained ; each succeeding day disclosing a new 

 and varied page in the inexhaustible Book of Nature. 



The family selected for the subject of the present Paper 

 derives its name from the conspicuous tufts of bristles 

 projecting forward along the bill,— -in some species surpas- 

 sing it in length ; the bill itself is very robust and conical, 

 and generally as long, if not longer than the head. From 

 the width of the gape the various species, all eminently 

 baccivorous, are able to swallow a good-sized fruit.* The 

 nostrils are round and exposed. Feet zygodactyle, resem- 

 bling the Picidce, like whom, it is said, they climb, and 

 even "tap." On this latter point I am very sceptical, 

 considering that the Picidce do it to obtain their insect prey, 

 while the Bucconidce are fruit-eaters. As to their climbing 

 even, I doubt if it extends beyond crawling up to their nests 

 in the holes of old trees, which the natives tell me they do, 

 always alighting a little below and climbing upwards. My 

 informants alluded particularly to B. rubricapillus and 

 flavifrons. Well authenticated information on these points 

 would clear up much uncertainty, f 



* I once shot B. caniceps with a fruit in its throat, the stone of 

 which measured three-fourths of an inch in diameter. 



f In confirmation of what I before observed as regards the daily 

 acquirement of knowledge in natural history, I extract the folk/ wing 



