THE HOOPOES. 139 



and looks very pretty indeed. The wings are large and 

 broad, and the flight is lazy and undulating, so that the 

 bird looks like a big butterfly on the wing, but it is really 

 a very strong and enduring flier. The legs are short, 

 and the toes three before and one behind ; the birds 

 walk well and spend most of their time on the ground, 

 pegging into it with their bills in search of the insects, 

 etc., on which they feed. 



They nest in holes, laying spotless eggs of a bluish or 

 gTeenish-white and the hen sits very close, hardly ever 

 coming off the nest. The said nest smells most vilely, 

 the smell being either due to the extremely unsanitary 

 state in which the interior is found, or to an exhalation 

 from the birds themselves — " dirty as a Hoopoe " is a 

 French proverb. With this exception, the Hoopoes are 

 altogether charming birds ; when not molested they are 

 quite familiar, and come freely into gardens, where they 

 are ornamental as well as useful. They are not sociable, 

 going singly as a rule, but where they are found com- 

 monly they are quite a feature in the local bird-life, 

 and are well-known to the natives under the name of 

 Hudhud. They do not sing, but have a pretty double call 

 like " hoop-hoop " ; they also make a " swearing " noise 

 when angTy or frightened. 



Hoopoes can be kept in confinement if reared from 

 the nest but are not very easy birds to keep. Hand-reared 

 birds have been known to become so tamed that they 

 could be allowed full liberty, and in any case if confuted 

 it should be in an aviary, not in a cage. They do not 

 care to bathe but roll themselves in sand like Larks or 



