THE HOOPOE.* 



In concludiiig our exposition of the tennirostral tribes, we now approacli the Hoopoes, 

 in close approximation to \\hich is placed the genus Frcgihia of Cuvier, containing 

 the Corrits (jrartilus, or red-legged crow of British writers. It is, in truth, so nearly allied 

 to the Alpine crow [C. pi/rrhocora.i'), or choticard lies A/jk's, both in structure and habits, 

 and is so often seen in company with that species, that wherever the one may be placed, 

 the other shoidd not be far distant. M. Temminck, indeed, places them in the same 

 genus, although the bill of the I'ed-legged bird, or Cornish chough, is longer than the 

 head, more subulate, and slender at the point, and without any notch. Cuvier regards 

 the C'ornis uffinis of Latham, and another species from New Holland, as both belonging 

 to the genus Fvegihis. 



The true hoopoes {genus Upupa) arc all distinguished b}' a crest upon the head, com- 

 posed of a double row of lengthened plumes, and capable of being raised at pleasure. 

 The only Eiu'opean species {U. epeps. — Linn) is a summer bird of passage on the 

 continent, where it travels northward as far as Sweden. It never breeds iiiBritain, though 

 it sometimes accidentally occurs there. One was sent to London a few yeai's ago from 

 the county of Fife. This bird is called huhhola hy the Italians, most likely from its 

 peculiar cry. It keeps itself concealed among the trees ; but is constantly heard repeating 

 the syllable bu, hu, hu, hi(, bit, with such a strong sonorous voice, that it may be heard at 

 a great distance. Its song, properly so called, is only uttered du)-ing the honeymoon. 



Upiipa L'pups, 



