490 



PASSEEINES. 



houp. They nest in the clefts of rocks or walls, and in holes 

 in the trunks of trees. When captured young, they become very 

 tame, and seem to be susceptible of great attachment to those 

 who take care of them. 



The Hoopoe (Fig. 204) is found in summer as far north as 

 Denmark and Sweden ; and southward, in France and Italy, 

 at Gibraltar and Ceuta, and in Egypt, where it breeds, as it 

 probably does over Northern Africa. It has been seen occa- 

 sionally at Madeira, and is abundant at Trebisond, whence it 

 comes every year to pass the summer season in Europe. During 

 the spring and summer it abounds all over France. At the period 

 of its departure — that is to say, in the month of September — it 

 is plump enough to be a choice morsel for the table, as its flesh 

 is very delicate. 



The Epimachus are remarkablv beautiful birds. When at 



maturity the side-feathers de- 

 velop themselves in delicate 

 lines or elegant panicles, while 

 their plumage, richl}^ coloured, 

 is brilliant with diaphanous me- 

 tallic reflections. Little is known 

 of their habits. They are na- 

 tives of Australia and New 

 Guinea. The very remarkable 

 species, E. midtifil (Fig. 205), 

 has six long fillets on each side 

 of its body. The equally strik- 

 ing species, E. magnus, has the 

 elongated side- feathers raised 

 and curling, of a glittering 

 steel blue, azure, and emerald 

 green ; the breast and belly 

 lustrous with the same diaphanous tints. This bird is an inhabitant 

 of New Guinea. 



The Promerops are distinguished from the other UpupincB by 

 the absence of the crest, by their very long tail, and by their 

 forked and extensible tongue. Thev are natives of Africa, and 

 their habits, like those of the former, are little known. 



mi 



Fig. 205.— Epimachus {Epimachus multifd). 



