1829.] 
On a New Species of Buceros. 
251 
shoulders of the wings projected, the strong, nervous legs exposed to view, and the 
flexible neck extended and arched backwards. His figure has then some of the 
graces, and even terrors of the nobler birds of prey. Its disposition is placid and 
tranquil ; but it is not therefore deficient in spirit, and when a captive and caged, 
though it hates, it fears not the approach of dogs, and to man's approach is quite 
indifferent. It is easily tamed, both from its confidence and quiet habits. Its ha- 
bits are sedentary : it dislikes strong light and heat, and tenants the deep woods, 
covering the hills which overhang the great Saul forest. Its more peculiar haunts 
are the largest trees, especially such as are decaying, the trunks of which it perfo- 
rates from the side, making its abode within upon the solid wood, and having its 
mansion further secreted by an ingeniously contrived door : so that it is difficultly 
found, and more difficultly taken. That which is now before me was extracted from 
the tree by cutting down to its nest with axes. I am told it pairs, and is not grega- 
rious. It cannot walk, but advances on foot forwards and sideways, by hops, like 
a crow, or magpie. Its flight is horizontal and heavy, with neck retracted and tail 
dropped. The voice of the mature bird is usually a short, hoarse croak ; but when 
angry or alarmed, it utters a cry not unlike a dog’s bark. If left alone, it seldom 
speaks, bnt when once excited to utterance, is most pertinaciously noisy. 
To ascertain the habits, in respect to food, of a very rare and shy bird, is ex- 
tremely difficult. After much inquiry, I gather that this species of Buceros feeds 
chiefly upon fruits, hut, when urged by hunger, does not refrain from various kinds 
of reptiles : judging by the structure of its bill, legs, and claws, (the biU is far less 
formidable than it seems to be, and the claws are very obtuse,) one should con- 
clude that it is not raptorial, even in the meanest sense : and its perfect freedom 
from all offensive odour, as well as the excellency of its flesh, (which is much es- 
teemed by the mountaineers for the table,) seem to go far towards proving that it 
is almost exclusively frugivorons. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that, in the 
tame state, this species will eat meat (either raw or dressed) with as much appa- 
rent relish as fruits ; and its natural habits in regard to food must, therefore, for 
the present remain doubtful. That which I am describing, is fed principally with 
boiled rice, mixed with ghee, and made up into large balls. M ater it never touches. 
The throat is very wide, aud the swallowing powers prodigious. Whatever is offered 
to the bird as food, is gulped entire, after being rubbed, more or less, according to 
the exigency, between the huge mandibles of the bill : and if not capable of being 
thus disposed of, it is rejected. Asa consequence of this mode of feeding, the bird 
is apt to be incommoded by its food, after it has reached the upper stomach ; in 
which case the substance swallowed is immediately and easily regorged into the 
bill, rubbed a little more, and swallowed again. 
Its odious voice, awkward gait) frequently erected tail, ana sombre pied plumage, 
proclaim its relationship to the Corrida- of the Stirps Corvina ; whilst its superior 
size, huge hill, gressorial feet, and tiny, triangular flat tongue, are family features 
that cannot be mistaken. ... . . . • 
M. le Vaillant complains of the unnecessary multiplication of species m this ge- 
nus. Yet I venture to anticipate, that the bird now described, will be allowed to 
be a new species. I am not sure whether it be male or female, nor can I satisfac- 
torily learn if the sexes are distinguished by any diversity of appearance. But so 
far as my information can be trusted, it may be presumed that the bird, above de- 
scribed, is a male, and that the female bears a general resemblance to the young 
bird ; which I now proceed to describe. 
With the parent bird, a young one was likewise taken. Mhen brought to the 
Residency, in the beginning of August last, it answered to the following description, 
and was then tolerably well crown, and well fledged. M r ing feathers of the head, 
neck, and body beneath, dingy red : tale entirely white, save at either extremity, 
where there was a margin of black : iris of the eye, greenish white: bill unnbbed on 
the upper mandible, and with the green tinge stronger than in the old bird s bill : 
inner edges of the bill quite smooth and united : naked skm round the eyes and base 
of the bill, and bag beneath the chin wanting the fine colours ot maturity : voice like 
the clacking of a brood lien, falling now and then into the shriller, but homopiionous 
note of the Guinea-fowl ; in other respects, like the mature bird. Now m the middle 
of November, the changes noted below have taken place : the bill less green and 
more like the mature bird's ; the first rib pf the upper mandible developed : the 
naked skin at the base of the bill, and the bag beneath the chin, taking rapidly the 
fine hues of maturity : the basal third and more of the tail, black ; and the tip no 
longer black • the dingy red of the body beneath, darkened a good deal on the tlughs 
and vent • the voice hoarser and like 'the mature bird's : the inner margins of the 
bill, still perfectly entire, 
