THE HOOPOE 141 



clothes (and that is saying a great deal, for his living 

 was not a fat one), when he saw a lady parishioner 

 driving in at the gate. With admirable presence of 

 mind, the parson rammed his hat down over his eyes, 

 stretched out his arms, and remained motionless in this 

 attitude. The lady drove past him, learned at the door 

 that he was not at home, and drove away again, little 

 suspecting that the innocent-looking scarecrow was her 

 spiritual adviser ! There is, however, this difference 

 between the parson and the hoopoe. The former con- 

 sciously imitated a scarecrow, while the hoopoe's imita- 

 tion of a bundle of rags is unconscious. It sees danger, 

 is very frightened, and crouches in its abject terror. 

 When it does this it has no idea that it is mimicking 

 anything. 



It is, I think, important' to bear this in mind, because 

 books dealing with mimicry sometimes give us the idea 

 that the mimicry is conscious, whereas it is nothing of 

 the kind. While the hoopoe is feeding, its crest is com- 

 pletely folded back, and looks like a prolongation of the 

 attenuated beak. But, directly a human being ap- 

 proaches, the bird stops probing into the ground and 

 regards the intruder suspiciously. If the bird be fur- 

 ther disturbed his crest is instantly erected, and he flies 

 away. 



Seen from a little distance, the hoopoe is so very 

 beautiful that one is naturally desirous of approaching 

 nearer ; but close inspection means a sad disillusion- 

 ment. The cinnamon -coloured feathers, which from 

 a little distance looked so soft and clean, are seen to 

 be coarse, dry, and untidy, and here and there patches 



