was due to her sex, as well as
to her long confinement in a dark cell of but limited dimensions, where
she had nothing to do but to rest.

But as the cock bird, after all, was quite as large as a Cochin-China
fowl, and, moreover, in good condition, there would be enough of him to
supply a full repast, without touching either the hen or chick. So it
was determined that both should be reserved till the following morning,
when no doubt all hands would be again hungry enough for the toughest of
fowls.

This point settled, the old cock was staked upon a bamboo spit, and set
over the fire, where he soon began to sputter, sending out a savoury
odour that was charmingly appetising.

The hen was at the same time chopped into small pieces, which were
thrown into one of the great shells, along with some seasoning herbs
Saloo had discovered in the neighbouring woods; and as they could now
give the stew plenty of time to simmer, it was expected that before next
day the toughness would be taken out of the meat, and after all it might
prove a palatable dish to people distressed as they had been, and not
caring much for mere dainties.

As they had nothing else to do but watch the spit, now and then turn it,
and wait till the roast should be done, they fell into conversation,
which naturally turned upon hornbills and their habits, Saloo furnishing
most of the information concerning these curious birds.

Captain Redwood had not only seen them before, in the course of his
voyages among the Malayan Archipelago, but he had read about their
habits, and knew that they were found in various parts of the African
continent.

They are there called _Korwe (Tockus erythrorhynchus_), and Dr
Livingstone gives an interesting account of them.

He says,--"We passed the nest of a korwe, just ready for the female to
enter; the orifice was plastered on both sides, but a space left of a
heart shape, and exactly the size of the bird's body. The hole in the
tree was in every case found to be prolonged some distance above the
opening, and thither the korwe always fled to escape being caught."

The first time that Dr Livingstone himself saw the bird, it was caught
by a native, who informed him that when the female hornbill enters her
nest, she submits to a positive confinement. The male plasters up the
entrance, leaving only a narrow slit by which to feed his mate, and
which exactly suits the form of his beak. The female makes a nest of
her own fe