136 THE HOOPOE 



FAMILY UPUPID.E 



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 Hnppe, 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. In spring 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 a sound 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 annuallv if not alwavs shot on arrival 



