17^ COMMON KINGFISHER. 



HOOPOE. 



UPUPA EPOPS. 

 Family Upupid.e. Genus UpupA. 



A summer visitor to our islands, but very rare, as 

 it has been almost exterminated owing to the stupid 

 persecution of persons eager to obtain a specimen. 

 In spite of this it still visits us, and has bred in most 

 of the southern counties of England. Its note is a 

 loud "hoop" uttered several times in succession. It 

 is a very handsome bird, with a fine buff-coloured 

 crest, tipped with black. The general colour of the 

 body is a dark buff colour. The wings are barred 

 with black and white, and the tail is black with a 

 white crescent-shaped band. The beak is fully two 

 inches long. Its food is chiefly insects and worms. 

 It is easily tamed and kept in confinement. 



The nest is placed in holes of trees, and consists of 

 a few straws, roots, and sometimes dried cow-dung. 

 The eggs are unspotted, and vary considerably. Some 

 are pale greenish blue, some grey, and some stone 

 colour. 



COMMON KINGFISHER. 



ALCEDO ISPIDA. 



Family Alcedinid.^, Genus Alcedo. 



Halcyon. 



The Kingfisher resides in most parts of the United 

 Kingdom, but can hardly be called a common bird. 

 It is decidedly the most beautiful of our British birds, 

 and on that account has suffered much persecution 

 and a consequent decrease in numbers, notwithstand- 



