336 BRITISH BIRDS. 
In Europe the Hoopoe frequents the open fields and small woods, where 
it is usually seen just on their borders. It is fond of haunting open 
glades of old timber near to pastures, and also lives on the plains and 
high up on the bare mountain-sides. In its habits it is shy and wary, but 
very active, and its movements on the ground may be described rather as 
a strut than a walk, and it may be seen moving about, bobbing its head 
backwards and forwards as it goes, stopping every now and then to probe 
into the soft earth in search of a worm, or to pick up some tempting 
morsel laying on the surface. It is most frequently seen on the ground, 
often on a manure-heap or other mass of refuse; but it is said to search 
old timber for insects. It does not often venture any distance from 
cover ; and although it is capable of long and powerful flight, it does not 
usually fly far at a time, but contents itself with flitting, in an apparently 
careless manner, from one place to another, or takes refuge amongst the 
trees when it is disturbed. It is said to be a very timid bird; and 
Naumann asserts that if a bird of prey, a Crow, or any other large bird 
should pass overhead, it immediately crouches on the ground and endea- 
vours to make itself look as little like a bird as possible, as with outspread 
wings and tail and upturned bill it awaits the cause of its alarm to pass 
over. Although so timid it is rather pugnacious, and in the pairing-season 
combats often take place between rival males. 
The food of the Hoopoe consists, so far as is known, exclusively of 
animal substances. It feeds chiefly on insects and worms, for which it 
searches amongst manure, in pastures, or even on the roads. It is very 
fond of the various species of coleopterous insects, and also eats ants, 
caterpillars, grubs, grasshoppers, &c. In its search for food, especially 
for worms, it is said to tap the ground with its feet to frighten its prey 
from their holes ; but this is very doubtful. The bird most probably hunts 
by smell, and when the presence of a worm or grub is thus detected the 
long bill is thrust into the ground, and the struggling captive drawn out, 
tossed into the air, in many cases, and caught as it falls, and then 
swallowed. ‘The bill is said to be always elevated when the bird swallows 
its food. 
The note of the Hoopoe is very singular, it might be said almost unique, 
and can be heard at a great distance. The bird often takes up its station 
on the branch of a tree or on a fence, and there utters his guttural and 
hollow-sounding note, which resembles the word hoop uttered several times 
in succession. Swinhoe, who has written some interesting particulars on 
the subject (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1871, p. 348), noticed that as it utters this 
sound the throat is puffed out and the bill is struck against the ground or 
the perch at each note. Before it repeats this singular call it repeats the 
puffing of the neck or throat with a low gurgling noise. When it is able 
to strike its bill the sound resembles the syllables hoop-hoop-hoop ; but when 
