170 CERTHIAD.E. 



ground with a very quick step. M. Necker, in his Memoir 

 on the Birds of Geneva, says, Hoopoes fight desperately, and 

 leave the ground covered with their feathers. 



A favourite locality for the Hoopoe on the Continent has 

 thus been described by a correspondent in the Magazine of 

 Natural History : — " On the Bordeaux side of the Garonne, 

 and near the city, are large spaces of marshy ground, inter- 

 sected by broad ditches and creeks terminating in the river ; 

 where from the advantage derived from the water, many pop- 

 lars and willows are planted for the sake of the twigs, which 

 are much used for tying vines. These trees being topped at 

 about ten or twelve feet from the ground, so as to induce 

 them to sprout much, become very thick, and, in the course 

 of a few years, gradually decaying at the centre, are attacked 

 by numerous insects, particularly the jet ant, Formica fuligi- 

 nosa. In these retired places, which are frequented only by 

 a few cowherds and country people, the Hoopoe, which is a 

 very shy bird, may be frequently observed examining the 

 rotten wood, and feeding on the insects with which it abounds. 

 The Hoopoe flies low and seldom, unless when disturbed, its 

 food being so abundant as to require little search. It breeds 

 in a hollow willow about the end of May. The young come 

 out in June ; but I could not ascertain the exact time re- 

 quired for hatching.'"' 



Mr. Gould mentions that a specimen was shot by J. Sul- 

 livan, Esq. on the 28th of September, 183S, in his own plea- 

 sure-grounds at Broom House, Fulham, only four miles west 

 from London. Further west it has been obtained in Wilt- 

 shire and Hampshire. In Dorsetshire it has been frequently 

 met with. One specimen has been shot by my friend Wil- 

 liam Thompson, in his garden at Hamworthy, near Poole, in 

 the latter part of September 1827. The injury this bird 

 received from the gun was slight, and on being approached it 

 drew back the head, erected its crest, and lowered its wings. 



