It is said to be omnivorous in its food; and in this it resembles the crows and ravens: but, indeed, as already stated, there are many species of hornbills, and the habits of the different kinds, by no means uniform or alike, have been confounded by most writers.

There are species in Africa, others in India and the Indian islands, and New Guinea is known to have one or two distinct species of its own.

All these differ not only in size, colour, shape of their beak, and the protuberance that surmounts it; but also in the kind of food which they live upon.

For instance, the African hornbills, and one or more of the Asiatic species, are carnivorous, and some even carrion-eaters.

These are filthy birds, their flesh and feathers smelling rank as those of vultures.