Hoopoes and Scops Owls 161 
my somewhat precarious perch, bring it within my grasp. It 
was an interesting bit of work, and afforded a good refutation 
of the reputed inaccessibility of nests of the Orioles thus placed 
amid the smaller branches of high trees. From my experience 
on this and other occasions, I believe that, given sufficient light 
rope and ordinary skill at climbing and using ropes, no nest of 
this description is safe from the determined birdsnester. 
Among the nesters in the hollow cork-oaks and alders are the 
Great Spotted Woodpecker, the beautiful Hoopoes (Upupa epops), 
and the Scops and Little Owls (Scops g2u and Carine noctua). 
I know of no more elusive birds than these dwellers in old 
trees. Many years ago Colonel Irby found several nests of the 
Scops Owl by tapping the trees and in consequence wrote : ‘* The 
nest 1s easily discovered by going round and hammering at the 
old cork trees with a stick.” 
For over thirty-four years I have sought the nests of these 
small Owls and have ridden and walked hundred of miles and 
tapped thousands of trees in their quest. Further, | have induced 
innumerable friends to go and do likewise, and without result, 
for never yet have I put an Owl off its nest by such methods. 
It was after one such day with some naval officers that somebody 
remarked that if Colonel Irby had realized the flow of appalling 
bad language which was the direct outcome of his advice to 
hammer the trees, he would probably have thought twice before 
placing it on record. 
One of the most mysterious of the calls among the dense woods 
is that of the Hoopoe. It consists of a curiously soft and hooting 
cry of ‘“ Hoo, Hoo, Hoo,” repeated at short intervals. Although 
I know of many pairs in different parts of the country, it is seldom 
indeed that one is able to find the nest. 
But of all the spring migrants which herald the approach of 
the nesting season none is more remarkable or more constant 
than the brilliantly coloured Bee-eater (J/evops apraster). 
Il 
