HOOPOES. 65 



seasons. They prefer low and damp situations that border woods 

 and forests ; in such places they may be met with searching on 

 the ground for insects and worms. They also seek for caterpillars 

 on the trunks of trees, or more frequently among the foliage; and 

 while in search of these devastators, may frequently be seen hang- 

 ing from a branch by their feet as they reach them from the leaves. 

 The nest is generally placed in a hole of some decayed tree, or 

 occasionally in a crevice of a wall or rock ; it is constructed of dry 

 grass, and is usually lined internally with feathers and other soft 

 and warm materials. The female deposits four or fiv^e eggs, or 

 more. 



This family includes the Hoopoes and Plume-Birds. 



Siih-Faniily I. 

 THE HOOPOES PROPER. UPUPIN/E. 



General Caracteristics.— Bill long, curved or straight from the base ; the culmen 

 keeled, and the sides generally compressed suddenly at the base towards the tip, 

 which is entire and acute ; the nostrils basal, small, and mostly covered by a mem- 

 branous scale ; the wings long and rounded ; the tail more or less long, graduated, 

 and even ; the tarsi generally short and strong ; the toes long, the outer toe united 

 at its base, the hind toe long and strong ; the claws long, strong, curved, and acute. 



,The representative of this sub-family — 



The Common Hoopoe {Upiipa epops) breeds in most parts of Europe, 

 and is sometimes a visitor in the British islands. These birds are generally 

 met with in woods in the vicinity of marshes, where they seek their food. 

 They walk and run upon the ground, when thus engaged, with great facility. 

 In the neighbourhood of Bordeaux, hoopoes are met with in great numbers 

 upon an extensive range of marshy ground occupied by pollard willows grown 

 for the sake of their long shoots. The rotting summits of the aged stumps of 

 these trees are visited by flocks, which find in them an abundant supply of 

 insects. The nest is made of a few stalks of grass mixed with feathers, and 

 is placed in the hole of a tree; the eggs, six or eight in number, are of a pale 

 lavender-grey colour. The hoopoe likewise feeds on grubs and worrns ; hence, 

 in Egypt, it follows the retreat of the Nile, where the neighbouring plains 

 swarm with insect life ; it also frequents ploughed lands and pasture ground, 

 like the crows. Great numbers are constantly to be found about the towns 

 and villages of Egypt, where they become very familiar with man, and build 

 their nests in the immediate vicinity of his habitations. 



When about to migrate, they become particularly shy and solitary, and 

 even their migrations are performed by single individuals, not in flocks. When 

 they perch, it is usually at a few feet from the ground on a willow or osier twig, 

 and in this position they pronounce the syllable " Poon " in a strong and de- 

 liberate tone, usually thrice in succession, turning their long bill on their 

 breast, and erecting their head with a smart motion. Sometimes they utter 



6 



