136 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
the bird to believe that it is really gregarious; it is, however, most 
frequently found singly. This species, to some extent, seeks its 
food (which consists of insects) upon the ground ; but, like the Bee- 
eater, it will also watch for and pounce upon its prey from some 
commanding height. Besides frequenting the ground in search of 
food, it also loves to dust itself in the sand. When in a state of 
rest the crest of this bird is generally recumbent, but on the least 
excitement it is alternately elevated and depressed, not rapidly, but 
in a graceful manner, with deliberation and ease. In Damara Land 
the Hoopoe is not very difficult to approach within range ; yet there 
is some difficulty in obtaining specimens, as the bird, the moment 
it finds itself observed, flits about incessantly amongst the foliage, 
or is lost to view by gliding rapidly to the opposite side of a tree. 
Its flight is short, rising and dipping alternately.” 
Mr. Monteiro found the Hoopoe very plentiful in Benguela, and 
Senor Anchieta has forwarded specimens to the Lisbon Museum 
from Biballa in Mossamedes as well as from the Cunene River. 
Adult male.—General colour deep rufous above and below, the 
crest-feathers with broad tips of glossy black ; middle of back barred 
with black ; rump white ; upper tail-coverts black ; tail black, with 
a broad white bar across it at about a third of the distance from the 
base, extending higher up the outer feathers ; wings black, the least 
coverts rufous like the back, the greater coverts broadly barred with 
white, inclining to sandy rufous where they adjoin the scapulars, 
which are also barred with black and yufous; primaries entirely 
black, without any white spot at all; secondaries white, black ‘for 
the apical third with a subterminal white bar ; innermost seconda- 
ries black, rufescent at base and on the edge, and haying an oblique E 
broad bar of rufous extending up the feather; entire under surface 
of body rufous, the under tail-coverts slightly inclining to white; — 
“bill dusky, pale at base; tarsi and feet dusky brown; iris dusky = 
brown” (Ayres) : legs greenish black (Buckley). Total length, 9°8 
inches ; culmen, 2:1; wing, 5:1; tail, 4:0 ; tarsus, 0-8. 
Female.—Differs from the male in being paler, and in having the — 
flanks broadly streaked with black. Total length, 9 inches; wing, ; 4 
5:2; tail, 4-0; tarsus, 0°65. : 
Fig. Vieill. Ois. Dor. pl. 2. 
