190 
BEAUTIFUL BIBBS. 
an unusual development of power in the wing ; in the* 
Hornbills, bj their superior robustness and muscular 
conformation of their frame. 
M. Lesson sums up the habits of the Hornbills in 
these w'ords : — “ Those of Africa live on carrion ; those 
of the East Indies seek for fruits, especially nutmegs, 
and their flesh tlience acquires a delicious flavour. 
Their flight is performed by repeated strokes of the 
wings ; and the air which they displace, joined to the 
clattering of tlmir mandibles, occasions a great and 
very disquieting noise in the forests, when the cause 
is unknown. This noise, capable of inspiring terror, 
does not ill resemble those flaws of rough and sudden 
winds fjrains de vent brusques et suhifs’) which arise 
so unexpectedly between the tropics, and blow^ so 
violently. The Europeans established at the Moluccas 
think that the furrows w'hich are seen on the bill of 
the Hornbills are the result of age, and that each 
furrow signifies a year ; whence the name of Jerarvogel, 
which they give to these birds.” Mr. Swainson observes 
that Hornbills are gregarious noisy birds, generally of 
a very large size, and are restricted to the Old Morld ; 
that they are omnivorous, feeding both on animals and 
vegetables ; that some, however, seem only to partake 
of the latter food ; while others, upon the authority 
of Le Vaillant, feed upon carrion. The Buceros 
cavatus, dissected by Mr. Owen, was observed to be 
more attached to animal than to vegetable food, and 
would quit any other substance if a dead mouse w*ere 
oflered to it. This it would swallow entnc, after 
squeezing it twice or thrice with the bill; and no 
castings were noticed. Mr. Owen states, how'ever. 
