A VES— HOOPOE. 563 



THE HOOPOE.i 



Of this bird there are only two species known to Europeans, one of which 

 is, however, diffused over the whole of the Old Continent. It weighs about 

 twelve ounces, and is twelve inches in length, the extent of its wings being 

 nineteen inches across. The bill is long, black, and somewhat curved. 

 The neck is pale reddish brown ; the breast and belly white ; the lesser 

 coverts of the wing light brown ; the back, scapulars, and wings crossed 

 with black and white, the rump white, and the tail white, marked with 

 black in the form of a crescent. But the distinguishing character is a beau- 

 tiful crest of about two inches high, which is of a pale orange tipped with 

 black, and which the bird can erect at pleasure. The food of this bird is 

 insects. It is a solitary bird, two of them being seldom found together. In 

 some places it is accounted good eating. 



ORDER VII. — ALCYONE S. 



Birds of this order have the bill middle sized or long, pointed, almost 

 quadrangular, and either slightly arched or straight ; tarsus very short ; 

 three toes before, united, and one behind. These birds fly with great celerity. 

 Their movements are quick and abrupt, and they neither walk nor climb. 

 They seize their food on the wing, and often from the surface of the water, 

 and nestle in holes on the banks of rivers. They moult only once a year ; 

 ind the females and young are not very dissimilar from the males and 

 mature birds. 



1 Upupa epops, Lix. The genus Upupa has the bill very long, slightly arched, slender, 

 .riangular, compressed; nostrils hasal, lateral, ovoid, open, and surmounted with feathers 

 n front ; t'.iree toes before, the exterior united to the middle one to the first joint; one be- 

 lind ; tail square, often feathers. 



