hoopoe. 427 



The sexes differ but little externally ; the female is, how- 

 ever, rather smaller, and less brightly coloured. 



The young are said by most observers to be at first covered 

 with white or light grey down, but Swinhoe states that 

 in China they are hatched naked. The feathers are de- 

 veloped within a blue sheath, which on bursting leaves them 

 almost exactly similar to those of the adult, and the crest is 

 conspicuous before the birds are fully fledged. The bill is at 

 first very short, and appears not to attain its full length till 

 some time after they have left the nest. 



The vignette gives a view of Fulham church, near which, 

 according to Mr. Gould, a Hoopoe was shot by Mr. Sullivan, 

 September 28th, 1832.* 



* Turner, in 1544, gave " houupe " as the English name of this bird, though 

 he said that, so far as he knew, it was not found anvwhtre in this country, re- 

 marking that most British writers when they used the word Upupa meant by it 

 the Lapwing. 



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