His ornithological knowledge went no further than to the birds of Bengal; and the toucan is found only in America.

He stated that the bird in the tree was called by the Feringhees a "hornbill," but it was also known to some as the "rhinoceros bird." Ossaroo added that it was as large as a goose; and that its body was many times thicker than its bill, thick as the latter appeared to be.
"And you say it has its nest inside that hole ?" interrogated Caspar, pointing to the little round aperture, which did not appear to be over three inches in diameter.
"Sure of it, young sahib," was Ossaroo's reply.
"Well, certainly there is some living creature in there, since we have seen it move; and if it be a bird as large as a goose, will you explain to me how it got in, and how it means to get out?
There must be a larger entrance on the other side of the tree." "No, sahib," confidently asserted Ossaroo; "that you see before your eye--that the only way to de horneebill nest." "Hurrah for you, Ossy! So you mean to say that a bird as large as a goose can go in and out by that hole?
Why, a sparrow could scarcely squeeze itself through there!" "Horneebill he no goee in, he no goee out.

He stay inside till him little chickees ready for leavee nest." "Come, Ossy!" said Caspar, in a bantering way; "that story is too good to be true.

You don't expect us to believe all that?
What, stay in the nest till the young are ready to leave it! And how then?
How will the young ones help their mother out of the scrape?
How will they get out themselves: for I suppose they don't leave the nest till they are pretty well grown?
Come! good shikaree; let us have no more circumlocution about the matter, but explain all these apparently inexplicable circumstances." The shikaree, thus appealed to, proceeded to give the explanation demanded.
The hornbill, he said, when about to bring forth its young, selects a hollow in some tree, just large enough conveniently to hold the nest which it builds, and also its own body.

As soon as the nest is constructed and the eggs all laid, the female bird takes her seat upon them, and there remains; not only until the eggs are hatched, but for a long time afterwards--in fact, until the young are nearly fledged and able to take care of themselves.