102 Mr. B. Alexander —An Ornithological 
lo\e-cries, which I cannot do better than liken to the 
chucking” notes of an amorous farmyard cock. Further¬ 
more, these notes are ventriloquial, for at times it is puzzling 
to discover the whereabouts of the utterer. The bird has a 
characteristic flight. A few rapid beats of the pinions, and 
then follows a long glide through the air, without the slightest 
motion of the wings; but should an object arouse the 
suspicion of the bird, the wings are again rapidly beaten and 
a vertical soar upward is often performed. An observer can 
always tell exactly for which tree the bird is making, though 
a considerable distance may intervene, since a direct bee-line 
is invariably taken. When alighting on a tree, its heavy 
bill appears to make it top-heavy, for the bird almost 
topples over, the tail at the same time assuming a vertical 
position, the next moment to be sharply brought down, 
whereby equilibrium is regained. As it sits on the knotty 
bough of some leafless baobab-tree it looks indeed comical, 
all bill, neck, and tail, with a body no larger than our Black¬ 
bird *s, reminding one forcibly of the hieroglyphics of ancient 
Egypt. 
This Hornbill does a great deal of good, inasmuch as its 
principal food consists of locusts and injurious beetles. The 
gizzards of many we dissected were crammed full of these 
insects. 
Adult Total length (measured in flesh) 20 inches, 
wing 7. Iris pale lemon-yellow ; bill dark claret-colour, 
almost black at base of lower mandible; legs and feet 
brown. 
Adult ? . Total length (measured in flesh) 19'5 inches, 
wing 6*7. Colours as in male. 
144. Lophocehos leucomelas (Licht.). 
A rather scarce bird. 
Adult $. Total length (measured in flesh) 19'65 inches, 
wing 7‘6. Bill orange-yellow; end of bill and cutting-edge 
of mandibles reddish black; legs and feet dark brown; iris 
lemon-yellow. 
Adult ? . Total length (measured in flesh) 17*8 inches, 
wing 6*7. Colours as in male. 
