On the other hand, there is a species in the Indian islands-- the Moluccas more particularly--whose sole food is the nutmeg, which gives to its flesh an exquisite aromatic flavour, causing it to be much relished at the tables of Oriental epicures.

The bill of this species after a certain time appears with a number of grooves or furrows in it.
As these furrows are observed only on the beaks of the old birds, the Dutch colonists established in the Moluccas believe them to indicate their age, each wrinkle standing for a year.

Hence the hornbill has obtained among the colonists the name of _Yerrvogel_ (year bird).
Karl, as I have said, was acquainted with all these facts in the natural history of the hornbill; but just then he did not think of making them known to his companions--all three being too much occupied in watching the movements of the male bird.

It was evident that he was not one of the vegetable feeders: for on his alighting they could see hanging from his beak a long cylindrical object, which they were able to identify as a portion--the head and part of the body--of a dead snake.

It was equally evident that his mate was not accustomed to a vegetable diet: for from the way in which he was manoeuvring, the spectators saw that the mutilated reptile was intended for her.