All Rig Jits Reserved . 
January, 1920. 
BIRD NOTES: 
THE 
JOURNAL OF THE FOREIGN BIRD CLUB. 
The Pied Hornbill. 
( A nthracoceros albirostris) . 
By Wesley T. Page. F.Z.S.. M.B.O.U. 
In last issue I gave a few notes on the Plicated Hornbill 
( Rhytidoccros plicatns). and I now propose giving" a few note? 
of a pair of Pied Hornl)ills, sent to me among" a number of other 
species l)y our memljer Mr. I'^. W. Ilariier, of Calcutta. These 
remained in my possession nearly three months, having recently 
l)een purcliased by the Mancliester Zoo. 
Before indulging in ])ersonal notes of this individual pair 
T ])urpose introducing them l)y some remarks on Indian Horn- 
bills generally, as. though |)()ssessing" many books of Indian 
birds, these do not contain any notes of the wild habits of the 
Pied ffornbill — however, this will be of little import, as, 
though the species differ materially in size, their wild habits, 
nesting" economy and general characteristics are all similar. 
It will be seen that Dichoccros biconiis. the Great 
1 lornbill and I^ophoceros birostris the Grey Hornbill are the 
si)ecies mostly referred to, and the extracts are from the books of 
1 )oug"las Dewar. 
" } lornbills, like the Jews, arc a i)eciiliar race. Tliere are no other 
" birds Hke unto them. They are fowls of extravagant form. Their 
" bodies are studies in disproportion. Tiie beak and tail of each species 
" would fit admirably a bird twice as big as their actual possessor, while 
'■ birds less than half their size might well look askance at the wings with 
" which they are blessed. With the solitary exception of the ' cake walk ' 
" of the Adjutant ( l.eptoptihis dubhts) I know of no sight in nature more 
" absurd th.m the flight of the Mornbill. By dint of a series of vigorous 
" flaps of ils disproportionately short wings the bird manages to propel 
