260 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
including it in this list, except that, from its pecu- 
liarity of appearance, it is less liable to be mistaken 
than any other bird. I have therefore included it 
on evidence that, in the case of any other bird, 
I should consider perfectly unreliable, for I only 
heard of one of these birds being seen at Monkton, 
near Taunton, during the months of April and May, 
in the year 1866: it was seen several times running 
about on a dung-hill near a farm-house, and was 
described as constantly erecting its crest: besides 
this peculiarity, I received such an accurate descrip- 
tion of the bird that I feel quite sure it could be 
nothing but the Hoopoe. In other neighbouring 
counties it is by no means a very rare visitor, 
as in Cornwall, Devon and Dorsetshire, there are 
many records of its occurrence: it has also been 
taken in Wiltshire, and has indeed made its appear- 
ance in almost every county in England and Wales, 
and in a few Scotch counties. Although its appear- 
ances in England are usually confined to the spring 
and autumn 1¢ would probably remain to breed* were 
it not that the peculiarity of its appearance excites 
curiosity, and the gun is consequently always brought 
into immediate requisition. Instead of being shot 
on every possible occasion the visits of the Hoopoe 
to this country should be encouraged, as its food 
* Yarrell records one instance of its doing so near 
Chichester. 
