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The Homrai.
(Dichocerus bicornis.)
This species of Hornbill, which is found in India and the Malay Peninsula, feeds on large, hard, stone-like fruits. He picks one from the tree, tosses it in the air and, as it falls, catches it in his huge open mouth, crushing it between his enormous mandibles before swallowing it. This feat is not accomplished with impunity, for although the hard shells are broken, pieces are frequently chipped off the edges of the mandibles, so that the beak of an old bird is often found to be much the worse for wear. In this species the sexes are alike, except that the male has black on the fore-part of the casque under the two points.