142 GARDEN AND AVIARY BIRDS. 
known even to the natives in Calcutta ; Charles Kingsley 
has familiarized English readers with it in ‘* Westward 
Ho!’’ It seems’ that the Hoopoes had rendered a signal 
service to King Solomon, who thereupon offered them a 
reward. This they very foolishly chose to have in the 
form of golden crowns ; but, on finding they were perse- 
cuted to the death for their unlucky jewelry, they came 
to the king to ask him to take back his gift. He saved 
his royal word by leaving them the crown, but changing 
it to one of feathers, which they have worn happily every- 
where but in England, where the ‘‘ enthusiastic local 
naturalist ’? cares not a jot for King Solomon! The 
Hoopoe was forbidden to the Jews as food, the word 
translated ‘‘ Lapwing’’ in the Bible really meaning the 
Hoopoe; and when the ill-flavoured nest of the bird, and 
the dirty surroundings among which it often seeks its 
food are taken into consideration, the prohibition does 
not seem unreasonable. 
THE SWIFTS. 
These birds are usually confounded with Swallows both 
by Europeans and natives, and as they resemble them in 
form, and in their habits of seeking their insect food 
on the wing and resorting to buildings for nesting purposes, 
the error is natural. But examination of the anatomy 
of the birds has shown that while the Swallows are not to 
be separated from the ordinary Passerine birds, the Swifts 
present so many differences that they cannot be classed 
in that order at all. 
