300 



BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 



taken in 1859, we find but six instances, out of sixty- 

 five specimens, of its being met with during the 

 autumn months — one in August and five in September. 

 To the late Mr. Thurtell, of Lowestoft, I am indebted for 

 the particulars of the thirteen specimens killed in that 

 neighbourhood between the 28th of April and the 5th 

 of May, 1859. These were all met with in the same 

 locality — the Warren and Denes — and were flushed 

 singly, nine being males and four females. In Mr. 

 Hunt's " List" of Norfolk Birds a pair of hoopoes are 

 recorded to have been " shot in a garden in the parish 

 of St. Martin's at Oak, in Norwich." 



The singular name of hoopoe is applied to this 

 bird in imitation of its peculiar cry,, which is emitted 

 by distending the cheeks with air, and then tapping 

 the beak on the ground. In China, as I am informed 

 by my friend Mr. Swinhoe, Vice-Consul of Formosa, 

 the same species is called "the coffin bird" by the 

 natives, from its habit of nesting in exposed coffins, 

 as well as in the holes of walls. There seems every 

 probability, from these birds being now so frequently 

 met with in pairs in this county during the early part 

 of the year, that in some instances they would remain 

 to breed if not subjected to that exterminating system 

 which all true naturaKsts cannot too severely deprecate ; 

 and for which, in this case at least, as I have abundantly 

 shown, neither rarity nor doubt as to the identity of 

 the species can be urged in excuse : — 



