EUROPEAN HOOPOE. 43 



Habits. — The Hoopoe has been met with in most parts of 

 England, as well as in several districts in Scotland, even as far 

 north as Caithness and Orkney, although not on the western coast 

 beyond the Frith of Clyde. It is not however a regular summer 

 visitant, but makes its appearance here and there unexpectedly, 

 more frequently in autumn than in summer, and in the latter 

 case seldom breeding. On the continent it appears to be gene- 

 rally distributed, arriving in the beginning of summer, and 

 departing in small flocks in September. The form of its tarsi 

 and claws would lead us to suppose it to be a climbing or 

 creeping bird ; but although it resides chiefly in woods, it is said 

 also to betake itself to the fields in their vicinity, and to walk 

 about in search of its food, which consists of insects and larvae. 

 Its very short tarsi however are obviously not well adapted 

 for walking, and were its habits for the most part terrestrial, 

 its claws could not fail to be in some measure blunted, whereas 

 they are remarkably acute in all the specimens that I have ex- 

 amined. Ploughed land, pasture-ground interspersed with 

 cow-dung, sandy soil, and muddy places by streams, are said 

 to be its favourite haunts. It breeds in hollow trees, forming 

 its nest, according to some, of dry cow-dung and roots, or, ac- 

 cording to others, of decayed wood, or of grass and feathers. 

 The eggs are said to be from two to five, a little more than an 

 inch in length, and of a uniform light grey or bluish-white. 

 It appears that the excrements of the young are allowed to re- 

 main in the nest, which accordingly is described as having an 

 extremely fetid odour, similar to that of the Kingsfisher, which 

 the Hoopoe further resembles in the construction of the bill, 

 and especially in the form of the tongue. The shortness of 

 the latter organ however does not render necessary a diet of 

 fish or frogs, as some have supposed, for Ibises and other 

 birds having equally short tongues can pick up small insects 

 and larvae with ease. 



This bird has been named Hoopoe from the crest or tuft, huppe 

 in French, with which its head is adorned. Some however 

 derive its name from its ordinary cry, which is said to resem- 

 ble up-up^ or pu-jm. It is said to be shy, although it allows 

 one to approach within shot, and, when obtained young, to be 



