lOO 



Bnlisit Birds. 



The Hooi'OE. 



the sternum can be dis- 

 tinf^uished from that of 

 the last-named bird by its 

 having oniv two notches, 

 instead of four, at the 

 posterior end, while both 

 aspects of the tarsus are 

 scaled across, as in the 



.^^'" CAIP ^"^^-^^^ $■ Larks. 



^^ * ^!^!'^~\ "^Binv The Common Hoopoe 



tUpnpa epops] is an in- 

 habitant, in summer, of 

 the whole of temperate 

 Europe and Asia to 

 Northern C h i n a and 

 Japan, and it winters in vSouthern China and the Indian Peninsula, North-eastern 

 Africa, and Senegambia. It occurs in the British Islands regularly ever_v spring, and 

 has undoubtedly nested with us. There can indeed be no doubt that the Hoopoe would 

 breed regularly in our southern counties, were it unmolested, but unfortunately it is 

 such a conspicuous bird that any unfortunate individual that comes over to our shores 

 is certain to be shot at once. In places where the Hoopoe is not interfered with it 

 becomes wonderfuUv tame during the nesting-season, and will come down into 

 gardens after its food, which appears to consist entirely of insects and worms. 

 The nest is always in the hole of a tree, and the eggs are from fi\e to seven, of a 

 stone-grey or greenish oli\e colour without an\' distinct spots. 



Kingfishers are found all over the world, and thev are 

 divided into two great groups : — those which feed almost ex- 

 clusi\'elv on fish, and tliose whose food consists mainlv of 



THE 



KINGFISHERS. 



Sub-Order 



HALCYONES. 



insects, Crustacea, etc., rather tlian of fish 

 is generally- 



known by the long and pointed bill and 

 shorter tail, and to this group belongs 

 our British Bird. There are many 

 anatomical and osteological char- 

 acters by which Kingfishers may be 

 distinguished from other Picarian Birds, 

 but there is no need to enter upon them 

 in a little book like the present, as the 

 form and colour of the birds renders 

 them easily recognisable. 



The Common Kingfisher {Alcetio 



ThI KiNl.nsHKR. 



