ZOOLOGICAL MUSEUM, TRING. 37 
and the oriental region as far as New Guinea and 
adjacent islands. A good selection of species is here 
exhibited. These birds have a peculiar habit : the 
female lays white eggs in a hollow tree, and the male 
with her aid plasters up the entrance with mud, 
leaving only a small hole through which she receives 
the food brought to her by her mate, and she is not 
released until the young are hatched. They have 
received their English name from extraordinary horn- 
like excrescences developed on the bill in many species, 
these “ horns ” being hollow and very thin in most 
cases, but solid and hard as ivory in one singular 
species. Just below the Hornbills, the Touracos or 
Plantain-Eaters {Musophagidae) are placed, a fruit- 
eating family entirely confined to the African forests, 
and noted for their beauty. The crimson colour of 
the wing-feathers which is found in many species 
has the peculiarity that it is washed out by water, 
and reappears after some time. 
Below these fine birds we find again more familiar 
ones : the Larks {Alaudidae), among them all British 
species, and very fine isabelline and spotted varieties, 
as well as total albinoes and the ugly blackish form 
which is sometimes developed in captivity, if the 
influence of the sun and fresh air and proper insect- 
food are wanting, and the birds receive much hemp- 
seed. Under the Larks we see the great family of 
Finches or Fringillidae, and the closely allied 
tropical Weaver-Birds {Ploceidae), as well as their 
