513 
Birds from British East Africa. 
wherever we went. We invariably saw large family parties 
of from seven to twelve, and when disturbed the whole flock 
would fly out of a bush together. Three that were shot con¬ 
tained small larvae and a beetle, which proves that they are not 
entirely fruit-eaters as some writers have said. They roost, 
anyhow occasionally, head downwards and always touching 
each other. The Masai eat them and are very adept at 
knocking them down with their “ knob-kerries 3> as they fly 
from bush to bush; partly on this account more live Colies 
were brought to me by my “ boys ” than any other bird, 
and I have found them easy to keep in confinement both 
abroad and in England. 
133. Bucorax abyssinicus. Ground-Hornbill. 
Bucorax abyssinicus (Bodd.). 
Iris brown ; bill black, with red patch at base of upper 
mandible ; wattles bright red ; skin round eye and bare part 
of throat slaty blue; legs black. 
The Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill was by no means un¬ 
common, and was generally seen in twos and threes; at a 
little distance its resemblance to a Turkey-cock is very 
marked. The birds were very shy and difficult to approach. 
I never saw them perching, but several times watched them 
hunting for food on the ground, pecking at the earth with 
their strong bills; they are said to kill snakes, but I never 
had the good fortune to see one do so. 
134. Mesopicus ph^ocephalus. Blood-breasted Wood¬ 
pecker. 
Mesopicus phaocephalus (Swains.). 
Iris brown ; bill black ; legs dark slate-coloured. 
A female Blood-breasted Woodpecker was shot at Naivasha 
on February 24th ; this was the only one obtained. 
135. Thripias namaquus. Bearded Woodpecker. 
Thripias namaquus Fischer. 
We found the Bearded Woodpecker in small numbers 
wherever we went. 
