I 
18 . __ 
TOOK US GI.NGALENSIS 
(THE CEYLON HORNBILL) 
ADULT MALE AND FEMALE 
Length 22 to 23 Inches; wing 8 to 8.3; tall 9 to 9.5; tarsus 1.6 to 1.7; 
middle toe 1.3, Its claw (straight) .56; bill gape to tip, straight 3.9 to 
4.3, along cu linen 4.3 to 4.41; expanse 27 inches. 
DISTRIBUTION 
This hornbill, commonly known by the name of toucan. Is an inhabitant of 
most of the tall forest and heavy jungle of the low country, ascending the 
mountains of both the Central and Southern Provinces, in the former of which 
I have met with it at an elevation of 4000 feet. It is plentiful througout 
the Northern Province, and Mr noldsworth found it inhabiting the scrub coun¬ 
try round Aripu. 
I do not know that it has been detected in the Jaffna peninsula, but it 
may possibly be found in the jungles near Elepha t Pass. passing over the 
seven Korales and the Puttalam district, in which it is tolerably plentiful, 
we find it in the forests about Ambepusse, and Avisawella, in the Raygarn and 
Hewagam Korales, in Saffragam, the pasdun and Kukkul Korales, and in tne jun¬ 
gles between Galle and the "Haycock*. In the Friar’s Hood hills it is like¬ 
wise tolerably frequent. As regards the Kandyan Province I think it is 
commoner in Uva than elsewhere; I have seen it from the Knuckles district, 
and have been told that it has occured in the main range at Kandapolla; to si 
such an elevated region, however, I should say it could only do a straggler 
during the day season, unless, indeed, it be a resident in Uda Puselawa, 
from which it would naturally extend to the jungles above the Elephant 
Plains. 
HABITS 
The Ceylonese Hornbill is a shy bird, frequenting the tops of tall trees, 
and rarely descending Into the low jungle beneath them. In the lofty tim¬ 
ber forests of the south and West therefore it is difficult to procure, out 
In the North, where the jungle Is of altogether a different character, thick 
with rather low trees. It may easily be shot, as the dense wood conceals the 
sportsman, and the distance of the bird from him is much less than when it 
is feeding on the top of some noble Kenar tree, or Ka-lng In the upper 
branches of a gigantic Hora. it generally consorts In troops of five or 
six, and Is very noisy, its note being a loud laugh, beginning with the syl¬ 
lables Ka-ka-ka-ka- slowly uttered, and then quickening Into Kakakakaka. 
