286 HOOPOE. 



gen, and the north of Norway and Russia ; while in the south of 

 Sweden and in Denmark it breeds sparingly, though in the latter its 

 numbers have diminished owing to the eradication of the old hollow 

 trees in the forests. Southward it is generally distributed through- 

 out Europe, wherever there are swampy woods and timber-fringed 

 meadows suited to its habits ; v.-hile in the countries bordering the 

 Mediterranean and Black Seas it is abundant and almost ubiquitous, 

 being especially numerous at the periods of migration. It is found 

 in the Azores and Madeira, while common (and partially resident) 

 in the Canaries, Northern Africa, Egypt and Nubia ; its most 

 southern winter-quarters being, as far as is known, between Abyssinia 

 and Senegambia. It is widely distributed through temperate Asia 

 up to Mongolia, and has occurred in Japan. 



A hole in the decayed wood of some tree — frequently a willow 

 or ash — is usually selected, and the slight materials of which the 

 nest is composed are generally surrounded or cemented by ordure 

 of some kind, which causes an intolerable stench, subsequently 

 increased by the droppings of the female and young. Some- 

 times a crevice in a wall or rock is made use of ; in China holes in 

 exposed coffins are occupied ; and Pallas found a nest in the chest 

 of a rotting corpse loosely covered with stones. The 4-7 eggs are 

 pale greenish-blue when first laid, but later they become greenish- 

 olive : measurements i in. by 7 in. The food consists of worms, in- 

 sects and their larvae — especially those found in dung — and flies, 

 which are taken on the wing. The flight is undulating. The 

 movements of the Hoopoe are particularly graceful at the time of 

 courtship, when the male struts about with crest erect, uttering a 

 note resembling a soft hu-bu (whence the Spanish term " abubilla ") 

 or hoop-hoop, to which, and not to the crest, it owes its English and 

 French names ; when excited, however, the bird emits a harsh croak 

 (W. Eagle Clarke). 



The adult has the plumage pale cinnamon on the head, shoulders 

 and under parts ; the long, erectile crest-feathers richer in tint 

 and tipped with black ; quills black, broadly barred with white, 

 and striped with buff on the inner secondaries ; lower back barred 

 with black, white and buff ; tail black, with a broad white bar across 

 the centre and descending towards the tips on the outer pair of 

 feathers ; the long, slightly decurved bill is black, flesh-coloured at 

 the base; feet dusky-brown. Length from base of bill 975 in.; 

 bill 2-5 in. ; wing 6 in. The female is rather smaller, duller in 

 plumage, and has less crest. The young bird has a shorter bill, and 

 the colours are not so rich. 



