Chapter IX

THE JACAMARS, PUFF BIRDS, KINGFISHERS, HORNBILLS, AND HOOPOES.

THE JACAMARS--THE PUFF BIRDS--THE
KINGFISHERS--Characters--THE COMMON
KINGFISHER--Distribution--Its Cry--Habits--After its
Prey--Its own Nest-builder--Mr. Rowley’s Note on the
Subject--Nest in the British Museum--Superstitions
concerning the Kingfisher--Colour--Various Species--CRESTED
KINGFISHER--PIED KINGFISHER--Dr. Von Heuglin’s Account
of its Habits--New World Representatives--OMNIVOROUS
KINGFISHERS--THE AUSTRALIAN CINNAMON-BREASTED
KINGFISHER--Macgillivray’s Account of its Habits--THE
LAUGHING JACKASS of Australia--Its Discordant
Laugh--The “Bushman’s Clock”--Colour--Habits--THE
HORNBILLS--Character--Their Heavy Flight--Noise
produced when on the Wing--Food--Extraordinary Habit of
Imprisoning the Female--Native Testimony--Exception--Fed
by the Male Bird--Dr. Livingstone’s Observations on
the point, and Mr. Bartlett’s Remarks--Strange Gizzard
Sacs--Dr. Murie’s Remarks--Mr. Wallace’s Description
of the Habits of the Hornbills--Capture of a Young
One in Sumatra--THE GROUND HORNBILLS--South African
Species--Kaffir Superstition regarding it--Habits--Mr.
Ayres’ Account of the Natal Species--How it Kills
Snakes--The Call--Habits--Mr. Monteiro’s Description of
the Angola Form--Turkey-like Manner--Wariness--Food--THE
HOOPOES--Appearance--Distribution--THE COMMON
HOOPOE--Habits--The Name--How does it produce its Note?--THE
WOOD HOOPOES--Habits 343