12 UNICORN HORNBILL. ^ 



vated and its point less prominent. These birds 

 frequent high woods, perching on large trees, and 

 in preference on the dead boughs: they nestle in 

 the hollows of the decayed trunks, laying four eggs 

 of a dirty white colour. The young are at first 

 entirely naked, and their bills have merely a slight 

 ridge or longitudinal crest of about three or four 

 lines high; but by the time their bodies are cover- 

 ed with a greyish-rufous down, the ridge or crest 

 of the bill enlarges, and rises every day in height, 

 and in the space of about twelve or fifteen days 

 begins to exhibit something of its future form, 

 though by no means sufficient to shew the decided 

 character of the species, which is not clearly de- 

 fined till the space of three months, when the 

 young take their flight. The casque at this period 

 exhibits the lateral furrows and the black patch in 

 front; the point however does not project till the 

 bird has arrived at the full period of its growth and 

 plumage. This part is subject to frequent acci- 

 dents, from striking against the branches of trees 

 while the animal is endeavouring to detach the 

 bark in order to obtain the insects, small lizards, 

 and tree-frogs which lurk beneath. The above 

 curious particulars were communicated to Levail- 

 lant by Monsr. Ixcors, who had passed many 

 years in the island of Ceylon in the Dutch service^ 

 and who had amused himself v/ith rearing several 

 of these birds. 



The description of this species given by Sonnerat 

 is, according to Levaillant, incorrect, and the ac- 

 companying figure faulty, and this, in the opinion 



