72 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



118. Upupa Minor, Gmel, Vieil, Ois d'Or., t. 2 ; 

 U. Gristatella, Vieil., Gal., Des. Ois., t. 184 ; Shaw, 

 Vol. 8, p. 188; U. Africana, Brecht. ; U. Gapensis, 

 Sw. PL, En. 697. 



General colour of the head, back, and under parts, deep 

 ferruginous ; the wiugs black, with white patches ; tail black, 

 with a white bar near the base ; back barred with black ; the 

 long crest- feathers of the head tipped with black. Length, 

 10" ; wing, 5f ; tail, 4" 7'". 



The lesser lioopoe is not found to my knowledge within the Table 

 Mountain peninsula ; the nearest spot from whence I have received it 

 has been Swellendam.* It may readily be distinguished from 

 the European bird by its deep rufous colour — the situation of the 

 white bar on the tail, close to the base instead of the centre ; and 

 the absence of white below the black tips of the crest. It is 

 very common in the Karroo towards Beaufort and Nel's Poort, 

 frequenting the thickets of mimosa trees which border all the rivers of 

 that district. Its monotonous cry of " hoop-poop " resounds the entire 

 day. It is shy and difficult of approach, searching for its insect prey 

 about the rugged limbs of trees or crevices of rocks. 



Mr. Almore writes : " They are migratory ; we did not see them at 

 Meiring's Poort from February till June : they then came in, but were 

 in bad plumage." 



Genus IRRISOR, Lesson, 



Bill long, more or less curved throughout its length ; the 

 culmen keeled, and the sides suddenly compressed from the 

 base towards the tip, which is entire and acute ; the gonys 

 lengthened and curved ; the nostrils basal and small, with the 

 opening oval and covered by a membraneous scale ; wings long 

 and rounded, with the fourth and fifth quills equal and 

 longest ; tail more or less lengthened, broad, and graduated ; 

 tarsi much shorter than the middle toe, strong, and covered 

 with broad scales ; toes long and strong ; the outer toe longer 

 than the inner, and united at the base beyond the first 

 joint ; the hind toe very long ; the claws long, strong, com- 

 pressed, and much curved. 



119. Irrisor Erythrorynchos, Lath. ; Pro- 



vnerops Erythrorynclios, Auct. ; Irrisor Gapensis, 



Less. ; Promerops Moqueur, Le Vail. ; Promerops, 1 , 



2, 3 ; Vieil, Ois d'Or, t. 6. 



General colour black, glossed with green on the head, back, 



and under parts ; purple on the wings and tail, and bronzed 



* April, 1861. I have just received one from the district of Clanwilliam, on the 

 Western coast. 



