ISTOETH INDIA WOOD 325 



of the Continent. The beautiful mixture of deep black and bright 

 yellow in the plumage and the rich notes of their song render both 

 species conspicuous as well as charming attractions in forest and 

 garden. 



It may be added to Molyneux's notes regarding the paradise fly- 

 catcher {Terpsephone paradlsi paraxlisi) that the species is one of 

 the most remarkable birds of the Himalayas; indeed of all India. 

 The females and young birds (and males until their second summer) 

 have glossy blue black as the predominating color of the head and 

 upper parts. This gradually runs into ashy brown on the breast and 

 to white on the abdomen. The tail is about 4i/^ inches long. In his 

 second year the cock, whose average length is 18 inches, is almost 

 transformed. He becomes more glossy black than before and the 

 two central feathers of his tail grow to a length of 12 inches or 

 more. In the fourth j-ear the whole head, neck, and crest become 

 a deeper metallic black, while the remainder of the body plumage, 

 including all the tail feathers, is distinctly white; in fact in his 

 flight through the jungle one sees a wonderful black-headed white 

 bird with a long white tail quite unlike his mate or indeed himself 

 of the year before. There are at least two variants of this conspicu- 

 ous species found in India and Ceylon. 



The hoopoe {TJpupa epops)^ celebrated in literature from the 

 earliest times, is not unknown to the people of Europe, having until 

 recent years made its appearance as far west as the British Isles 

 where on several occasions it has nested and bred. Doubtless this 

 beautiful bird might have established residence there had it not been 

 shot down by barbarians as soon as seen. The hoopoe is about 12 

 inches in length, with a long slender bill slightly curving from 

 base to tip and a large, conspicuous crest capable of being erected 

 or folded at will. Of its variegated plumage it may be said that the 

 head and neck are golden buff, the broad-feathered erectile crest 

 being tipped with black and barred near the terminals with yel- 

 lowish. The upper back is reddish; the flight feathers are black 

 broadly crossed with white. The long square tail is black with 

 a marked white chevron. This combination of form and color pro- 

 duces markings that render the bird conspicuous even at a consider- 

 able distance. 



I have had many opportunities of observing the Indian hoopoe at 

 close range; for a couple of months several pairs were my frequent 

 companions at a game of golf on the links at Srinigar. They were 

 quite tame and kept only a few j'-ards out of range of golf balls. 

 As my drives and other shots Avere not long, I had many opportuni- 

 ties of making notes of their feeding methods (there were numerous 

 insects to be had for the catching), the manner of raising and lower- 

 ing their remarkable crests, their disputes, love making, etc. 



