ROLLERS, MOTMOTS, KINGFISHERS 95 



What they may lack in brilliancy of plumage the Hoopoes and 

 Hornbills atone for in quaintness, though even in the matter of 

 colour the Hoopoes may hold their own with their more gaudy relatives. 



These two families, as will be shown presently, are in many ways 

 remarkable. 



The Hoopoes are singularly graceful birds, having long curved 

 beaks and very beautiful plumage. 



The Common Hoopoe (Plate XXII. fig. 8) occurs at rare intervals 

 in Great Britain. But for collectors, it might be much more frequently 

 met with, since it has bred more than once in this country. The 

 most striking feature of this bird is its beautiful crest, which can be 

 raised or depressed at pleasure. Conspicuous though its colours 

 appear to be, they are really not so, for when the bird is alarmed it 

 has the habit of throwing itself flat upon the ground and spreading 

 out its wings, when it at once loses all resemblance to a bird ! 



Hoopoes breed in holes, and their nests — composed of sticks, 

 straw, and a few feathers — soon assume a most insanitary condition, 

 and give forth an almost overpowering smell. This is intensified by 

 the fact that the oil-gland of the sitting female, and of the young, 

 gives forth a most nauseous smell. While sitting, the hen, who 

 rarely leaves the nest, is fed assiduously by her mate. Their food 

 consists of insects and worms. The larger insects when captured are 

 tossed in the air and caught again before being swallowed. 



Tradition has it that these birds once wore crowns of gold, and 

 on this account were greatly persecuted. Accordingly they went to 

 King Solomon and sought relief. He gave them instead a crown of 

 feathers ; but this seems to have afforded but an indifferent pro- 

 tection, for they are still shot for the sake of these crowns. 



In Africa black Hoopoes, with red beaks and no crown of feathers, 

 occur. The black is brightened by a metallic gloss of purple and 

 green, relieved by a white wing-patch and white markings on the tail. 



The Hornbills are to be reckoned among the most remarkable of 

 living birds, having bills of enormous size, and often still further 

 exaggerated by a huge casque which extends backwards over the top 

 of the head. 



These birds are natives of Africa and India, and the Malay regions 

 to the Solomon Islands. In spite of their enormous size, their beaks 



