40 



UPUPA. HOOPOE. 



Bill longer than the head, slightly arcuate, very slender, 

 compressed, angular, pentagonal at the base, four-sided toward 

 the end, the point sharp, or somewhat blunted from use ; upper 

 mandible with its dorsal line slightly arcuate, the ridge very 

 narrow, the sides sloping and flattened, the edges sharp, with- 

 out notch, the tip flattened, rather acute ; lower mandible 

 with the angle rather long and narrow, the dorsal line slightly 

 decurved, the ridge sharp, the sides at the base erect and flat, 

 toward the end inclining outwards, the edges sharp, the tip 

 acute, the gape-line slightly arcuate. Fig. 193. 



The mouth of moderate width ; the palate convex, the upper 

 mandible very slightly concave beneath, the lower almost flat. 

 Tongue very short, fleshy, flattened, as in Alcedo. Nostrils 

 oblong, basal. Eyes of moderate size. 



The general form is rather slender ; the body ovate ; the 

 neck of moderate length ; the head ovato-oblong, rather small. 

 The feet very short, and of moderate strength ; tarsus very 

 short, roundish, with seven anterior broad scutella, somewhat 

 sharp behind, with two rows of scales ; toes moderate, com- 

 pressed ; the first with its claw longer than the tarsus and nearly 

 equal to the middle toe, the outer adnate at the base, and some- 

 what longer than the inner. Claws of moderate length, stout, 

 that of the hind toe slightly arched, compressed, with the 

 tip acute and abruptly deflected ; the rest well arched, cora- 

 jDressed, very acute, all laterally grooved. Fig. 194. 



The plumage soft and blended, the feathers elliptical, with- 

 out plumule ; those on the top of the head oblong, much elon- 

 gated, forming a large crest ; no bristle-feathers at the base of 

 the bill. Wings rather long, very broad, much rounded ; the 

 first quill about half the length of the fourth, which is longest ; 

 the quills nineteen, all rounded. Tail nearly even, often rounded 

 soft feathers. 



