APPENDIX 
323 
as low as Simba at end of March. It migrates northward at 
that date to breed. 
The African Hoopoe (U. africana) is abundant, and was 
also observed at Simba in March, and at various other points. 
It frequents open bush, and is distinguished by its dark wing 
(not barred with white as in U. epops) and its redder body- 
colour. Resident. 
Wood-Hoopoes (Irrisor) 
These are forest-frequenting birds, without crest, blackish in 
plumage, with glossy metallic lustre of deep greens and purples, 
and showing only a single white bar on the wings. Their tails 
are long, graduated and cuneate, each feather having a sub¬ 
terminal white bar. These are noisy birds, attracting one’s 
attention by a harsh discordant chatter within the bush, and 
then, on being disturbed, flying off with loud outcries. 
At Sultan Hamud I watched a pair climbing like Wood¬ 
peckers in search of insects on rough tree-trunks, and made the 
rough sketch inserted at p. 243. 
Hornbills 
(Usually, but quite wrongly, called “ Toucans ”—the latter 
being exclusively a South-American family.) 
Great Ground-Hornbill —Bucorax coffer. Only found in dense 
forest, or about the margins or “ opens ” thereof. Re¬ 
sembles a turkey as it struts along the ground, feeding 
on small reptiles, insects and everything that crawls, 
and with great red wattles pendent from its bare blue 
throat. The flight appears smooth and noiseless as that 
of an owl, though when disturbed close at hand a loud 
rustling is audible; it is gently undulated by the inter¬ 
mittent wing-beats, the broad white bands on the wings and 
the immensely long tail being conspicuous. Always wild 
and watchful. See p. 197. 
In the Mau forests we noticed several large Hornbills, which 
probably included (besides the above)— 
Trumpeter Hornbill —Bycccnistes buccinator (p. 192). 
Crested Hornbill— B. cristatus (p. 193). 
