HOOPOE. 



PICARIM. 



419 

 UPVPlDuE. 



Upupa epops, Linnseus*. 

 THE HOOPOE. 



Upupa epops. 



Upupa, Linnceus\. — Bill long, slender, slightly arched, sharp and much com- 

 pressed. Nostrils basal, oval, partly concealed by feathers. Tongue very short, 

 and heart-shaped. Head with an erectile crest of oblong feathers set regularly in 

 pairs for the whole length. Wings moderately long, very broad, with ten prim- 

 aries, the first ahout half as long as the second, which is nearly an inch shorter 

 than the third, the fourth or fifth longest, but the sixth nearly equal to them. 

 Tail of ten feathers, almost square at the end. Feet with the tarsi scutellated 

 behind as well as before ; toes three before, one behind, the outer and middle 

 united as far as the first joint ; claws but slightly curved. 



So remarkable is the appearance of the Hoopoe, that on 

 being seen in this country it is nearly always followed to the 

 death, as though it were a great prize ; yet it is by no means 

 rare with us, since not a year passes without examples being 

 obtained; and its occurrence has been recorded in more than 



• Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 1S3 (1766). 



\ hoc. cit. 



