[Case 58. ] 
[Case 58. | 
90 BIRD GALLERY. 
of the seven genera recognised; Momotus (1176) and Prionirhynchus 
(1177) having racquet-shaped middle tail-feathers, while in Baryphthengus 
(1178) these feathers are normal. 
Family VIII. Topps. Topizs. 
This family includes four diminutive West Indian species of the 
genus Todus (1179-1180), closely allied in structure to the Motmots, 
but differing from them externally, and resembling the Flycatchers in 
general appearance and habits. Like their allies, they nest in holes in 
banks and lay glossy white eggs. 
Family [X. Urupipa. Hooposs. 
The birds comprising this family are distributed over Europe, Asia 
and Africa, and are divided into two subfamilies—the true Hoopoes 
(Upupine), and the Wood-Hoopoes (Jrrisorine). To the former belong 
rufous-coloured species with large crests, such as the Common Hoopoe 
(Upupa epops) (1181), which is a regular visitor to Britain, and is 
occasionally known to breed in the south of England. It is widely 
distributed over temperate Europe and Asia, migrating southwards in 
winter to India, Arabia, and North Africa. These birds walk well, and 
pass much of their time on the ground hunting for insects and worms, 
the long bill being used to probe the soil; they also capture flies on the 
wing, and may frequently be seen climbing rocks or branches of 
trees in search of food. The nest is placed in a hole in some tree, 
wall, or rock, and being composed of slight materials cemented 
together with ordure, has a very offensive smell. The eggs are from 
four to seven in number and of a pale greenish-blue colour; the 
young resemble their parents in plumage, even the crest being well 
developed at an early stage. The trivial name is derived from the 
ery, which resembles the syllable “ hoop ” uttered two or three times 
in succession. 
The Wood-Hoopoes, represented by the genera Irrisor and Rhinopo- 
mastus, are peculiar to Africa, and all are long-tailed, dark-coloured 
birds with more or less metallic green, blue, or purple plumage. Their 
habits and mode of life are very similar to those of the Hoopoes. One 
of the most remarkable in colour is Jackson’s Wood-Hoopoe (Jrrisor 
jacksoni) (1184), which has the head and throat nearly white ; the 
species of Rhinopomastus (1185, 1186) are also noteworthy on account 
of their long and extremely curved bill, which is specially adapted for 
probing the crannies of trees in search of insects. 
