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174 BIRD GALLERY. 
No. 100. HOOPOE. (Upupa epops.) 
This handsome bird, common in many parts of Europe, Asia, and 
North Africa, is a spring visitor to the southern and eastern parts of 
England, where, if unmolested, it would breed regularly. It is, how- 
ever, subjected to so much persecution on its arrival, that very few 
pairs survive and are allowed to rear their young in peace. The slight 
nest is placed in a hole in some decayed tree, frequently a willow or 
ash, and from four to seven pale yellowish eggs are laid on the decaying 
mould, ‘The group exhibited is remarkable for the great disparity in 
the size of the young birds, and for the unusually clean condition of 
the nest. 
Poklisa, Hungary, June. 
Presented by C. G. Danford, Esq. 
No. 101. DUNLIN, (Pelidna alpina.) 
Throughout the year this Sandpiper is common on the shores and 
tidal rivers of the British Islands, and may be met with in large flocks 
on the mud-flats and sand-banks uncovered by the tide. In summer 
most of the adult birds move inland to the more extensive moorlands 
and marshy districts to breed, and are then fairly plentiful in Scotland 
and the northern counties of England, but rare in the south, and local 
in Wales and Iveland. The nest, a mere depression in the turf, slightly 
lined with dead grass, is situated among short heather or in a tussock 
of coarse grass. The four eggs are usually of a pale green colour 
blotched and spotted with grey and reddish-brown. 
Cumberland, June. 
Presented by the Rev. H. A. Macpherson. 
No. 102. GOLDEN PLOVER. § (Charadrius pluvialis.) 
Though numbers of these birds are resident in the British Islands 
throughout the year, the species is most plentiful during the periods of 
migration and in winter, when vast flocks frequent the pastures and 
coasts, in search of the insects, worms, molluses, ete., on which they 
feed. In March the birds, which breed in our islands, retire to the 
moors and prepare a slight hollow in the ground, usually among heather 
or short grass, for their eggs. These are always four in number, and 
are yellowish-buff, handsomely blotched and spotted with purplish- 
brown and brownish-black. 
After the autumn moult the black underparts are replaced by white. 
Yorkshire, May. 
Presented by Lord Walsingham. 
