THE HOOPOES. 13% 
looks merely pointed, but when the bird is angry or 
afraid or courting, or has just alighted, it is fully expanded 
and looks very pretty indeed. The wings are large and 
broad, and the flight is lazy and undulating, so that the 
bird looks like a big butterfly on the wing, but it is really — 
avery strong and enduring flier. The legs are short, 
and the toes three before and one behind; the birds 
walk well and spend most of their time on the ground, 
pegging into it with their bills in search of the insects, 
etc., on which they feed. 
They nest in holes, laying spotless eggs of a bluish or 
greenish-white and the hen sits very close, hardly ever 
coming off the nest. The said nest smells most vilely, 
the smell being either due to the extremely unsanitary 
state in which the interior is found, or to an exhalation 
from the birds themselves—-‘‘ dirty as a Hoopoe’’ is a 
French proverb. With this exception, the Hoopoes are 
altogether charming birds; when not molested they are 
quite familiar, and come freely into gardens, where they 
are ornamental as well as useful. They are not sociable, 
going singly as a rule, but where they are found 
commonly they are quite a feature in the local bird-life, 
and are well-known to the natives under the name of 
Hudhud. They do not sing, but have a pretty double call 
like ‘‘ hoop-hoop ;”’ they also make a “‘ swearing’ noise 
when angry or frightened. 
Hoopoes can be kept in confinement if reared from 
the nest, but are not very easy birds to keep. Hand-reared 
birds have been known to become so tame that they 
could be allowed full liberty, and in any case if confined 
