136 THE HOOPOB 
FAMILY UPUPIDZ 
THE HOOPOE 
UPUPA EPOPS 
Crest orange-red tipped with black ; head, neck, and breast pale cinnamon ; 
back, wings, and tail barred with black and white ; under parts white. 
Length twelve inches; width nineteen inches. Eggs lavender grey, 
changing to greenish olive. 
LITTLE appears to be known of the habits of this very foreign-looking 
bird from observation in Great Britain. The season at which it is 
seen in this country is usually autumn, though a few instances have 
occurred of its having bred with us. In the south of Europe and 
north of Africa it is of common occurrence as a summer visitor, but 
migrates southwards in autumn. Its English name is evidently 
derived from the French Huppfe, a word which also denotes ‘a 
crest’, the most striking characteristic of the bird. It is called also 
in France Puput, a word coined, perhaps, to denote the noise of 
disgust which one naturally makes at encountering an unpleasant 
odour, this, it is said, being the constant accompaniment of its nest, 
which is always found in a filthy condition, owing to the neglect of 
the parent birds in failing to remove offensive matter, in conformity 
with the laudable practice of most other birds. In spite of the 
martial appearance of its crest, it is said to be excessively timid, and 
to fly from an encounter with the smallest bird that opposes it. It 
lives principally on the ground, feeding on beetles and ants. On 
trees it sometimes perches but does not climb, and builds its nest 
in holes in trees and walls, rarely in clefts of rocks. It walks with 
a show of dignity when on the ground, erecting its crest from time 
to time. Inspring the male utters a note not unlike the coo of a 
Wood-pigeon, which it repeats several times, and at other seasons it 
occasionally emits asound something like the shrill note of the Green- 
finch. But it is no musician and is as little anxious to be heard as 
seen. The nest is a simple structure composed of a few scraps of 
dried grass and feathers, and contains from four to six eggs. It 
would breed here annually if not always shot on arrival. 
