The TOK (_Rhynchaceros erythrorhynchus_), a species inhabiting a large
portion of Africa, is of a reddish grey upon the mantle and dirty white
on the under side; the head and throat are greyish white; the wing-covers
black, spotted with yellowish white on the inner web, with the exception
of the innermost, which is white on the outer and brownish grey on the
inner web; the two centre tail-feathers are a dull grey, the rest are
black and white. The eye is deep brown, the beak blood-red, with a dark
patch at the base of the lower mandible, the feet are brownish grey. This
species is seventeen inches and three-quarters long, and twenty-two broad;
the wing measures six inches and a half and the tail seven inches and a
half. The female is similarly coloured, but considerably smaller than her
mate.
The Tok is commonly met with in all the forests of Abyssinia, Eastern
Soudan, and Cordofania, and occurs, we believe, throughout the whole of
the wooded portions of Central, Western, and Southern Africa. Occasionally
we have noticed it living among the wooded portions of the steppes, and
have seen it in large numbers upon the lofty trees that abound in the
river valleys. According to Heuglin, it is found upon the mountains at an
altitude of seven thousand feet above the sea. Like other Hornbills, it
is a true tree-bird, and but rarely descends to the ground, except when
the supply of fruit and berries upon which it principally subsists falls
short. Certain trees are usually selected as favourite resting-places,
and upon them it perches with the utmost regularity, taking possession of
the highest branches, upon which it sways itself to and fro, varying the
entertainment from time to time by hopping clumsily from bough to bough.
Its flight somewhat resembles that of the Woodpecker, and is produced by
a series of rapid strokes, by means of which the bird rises quickly into
the air to a certain height, from whence it precipitately descends, with
the head downwards, in a series of curves. This process is repeated many
successive times, the tail meanwhile being alternately spread and closed.
The cry of the Tok, which is supposed to be represented by its name, is
usually reiterated with great persistence and such rapidity as frequently
to have almost the effect of one sound prolonged for a minute at a time,
each note being accompanied by a duck of the head that gives a most absurd
effect to the whole performance, as, owing to the quickness of utterance
in which the bird indulges as it becomes excited, it is compelled to
exert itself to the utmost, in order that the bow and the cry may be
simultaneous. In disposition this species exhibits all the curiosity and
keenness of observation possessed by the Raven, and, like that noisy
bird, never fails to betray the presence of any unusual object to all its
feathered companions by the loudness of its warning cries, which appear
to be uttered solely for their benefit, for the Tok itself boldly darts
down upon even the larger birds of prey, and grievously torments the
leopard of its native forests by harrying it during its search for food.
The stomachs of such of these birds as we examined contained only fruits,
seeds, and insects, but it is probable that they also plunder nests and
devour small quadrupeds. Heuglin mentions having seen a nearly-allied
species on a piece of carrion, but whether it was employed in consuming
it or merely in gleaning the flies from its surface he was unable to
ascertain. The Arabs state that the Tok deposits its eggs in holes in
trees, at the commencement of the rainy season.
* * * * *
The TWO-HORNED HORNBILLS (_Dichoceros_), as the Indian representatives
of this family are called, are recognised by the large, high, broad
appendage, divided into two portions in front, which covers a considerable
part of the forehead, and extends over one-third of the beak.