Tas. XLIV.
BUCEROS CAVATUS.

Tuts noble species of Buceros, already described as a native of some parts of India, but not having hitherto

been known as an inhabitant of the Himalaya, is found equally in Java and most of the islands of the Eastern
Archipelago. It may be observed that those specimens of the species which have been received from the
mountains slightly exceed in size those which are natives of the lower districts around them. The food of the
Buceros cavatus, like that of other Hornbills, consists of fruits, berries, flesh, and even carrion; in short, it
may be considered as strictly omnivorous. The conformation of the feet in those birds leads them to resort
much to trees ; the broad and fleshy palm, which, as it were, lines the interior of the three strong and partly
united front toes, giving them great power of grasping, and agility in leaping from branch to branch.

The throat, ear-coverts, circle round the eye, and a narrow band at the occipital edge of the protuberance
of the beak, are black; the neck dirty straw-colour ; the feathers of the back of the neck are elongated; the
body and wings are black; the greater coverts and quill-feathers being tipped with white ; the thighs, upper
and under tail-coverts white, as is the tail also, with the exception of a broad black band about three inches
from the tip; the beak is yellowish, inclining to scarlet at the tip, the under mandible being black at the
base; the tarsi are black.

The figure is half the natural size.