

>; ' t 



IN ''-~^> 



<;^^.^^\X\^Hi^^^:^"'^'^-''^^^'^^ 



HOOPOE.— [rjiilpti Epnjis. 



Tlie nest is made in hollow trees, and consists of dried grass stems, feathers, and other 

 soft substances. The eggs are of a light grey colour, and in number vary from four to 

 seven. They are laid in May, and the young make their apiJcarance in June. It is worthy 

 of notice that the beak of the young Hoopoe is short and quite straight, not attaining its 

 long curved form until the bircl has attained its full growth. The nest of the Hoopoe has 

 a very pungent and disgusting odour, which was long thought to be caused by putrid food 

 brought by the ^sarent birds to their young, and the Hoopoe was therefore supposed to 

 enact a part analogous to that of the vulture, and to perform the office of a scavenger. 

 But, as the reader will doubtlessly have observed, the food of the Hoopoe consists chiefly 

 of living insects, and could have no such ill effects. The real reason of the evil odour 

 is that the tail-glands of these birds secrete a substance that is extremely offensive to 

 human nostrils, although it is unheeded by the birds themselves. 



The name Hoopoe is doubly appropriate to this bird, as it may be either derived 

 from the crest {hvpjye), or from the peculiar sound which the bird is fond of uttering, and 

 which resembles the syllable Itoo2) ! hoop ! which, as Mr. Yarrell observes, " is breathed 

 out so softly, yet rapidly, as to remind the hearer of the note of the dove." The pace of 

 the Hoopoe is a tripping kind of walk, which is at times very quick and vivacious, and 

 sometimes is slow and stately as if the bird were mightily proud of its crested head. 

 When at liberty it is generally found in sequestered spots, preferring low, marshy ground.?, 

 and the vicinity of woods, because in these places it is certain to find plenty of food. 



The Hoopoe is a hardy bird in captivity, and from all accounts seems to be very 

 interesting in its habits. From the many histories of caged or domesticated Hoopoes, I 

 select the following, as they give a very good idea of the bird and its peculiarities. The 

 first account is written by IMr. Blyth, in a contribution to the Magazine of Natural 

 History. 



" On beholding six of these Turds confined in a very roomy cage, I was particularly 

 struck with their vivacity and quirk and expressive physiognomy ; and a scene not a 

 little amusing was exhibited on holding to them a morsel of meat. In a moment they all 

 crowded eagerly to seize it, uttering a wheezing cry, and following my hand with rapidity 

 about the cage, one or two of them sometimes clinging to the wires ; and when at length 



