334 TJPUPIDjE. 



Order UPUP^E. 



Family UPUPIMS. 



Upupa ceylonensis, Eeich. The Indian Hoopoe. 



Upupa nigripennis, Gould, Jerd. B. Ind. i, p. 392 ; Hume, Rouyh 

 Draft N. # E. no. 255. 



The Indian Hoopoe lays from February to May in different 

 parts of India. In the Doab March and April are the months in 

 which the majority of the eggs are found. 



They nest in holes in trees, walls, or banks, never at any great 

 elevation from the ground, and occasionally in the roofs and 

 between the rafters of houses. Very little nest is made as a rule ; 

 a little hair, a few feathers, leaves, or fine grass-stems, carelessly 

 strewed over the floor of the hole or hollow, constitute their 

 apology for a nest, and when the holes of trees are resorted to, 

 there is often absolutely no nest at all. The female alone in- 

 cubates, and, especially when the eggs are near hatching, scarcely 

 ever leaves them for a moment, being assiduously tended by the 

 male, who brings her food perpetually. 



From four to seven is the normal number of the eggs, but 

 smaller numbers may often be met with fully incubated, while 

 eight and nine are said (I do not vouch for the fact) to be occa- 

 sionally met with. 



Miss Cockburn, writing from Kotagherry, tells us that " the 

 Lesser Hoopoe selects holes in stone walls (such as are built for 

 cattle-pens) and in earthen banks as places to build in, and forms 

 a mere apology for a nest, consisting of a few hairs and leaves, 

 which in a short time has a most offensive smell, and it is many 

 days before the eggs, which are four in number and of a dingy 

 white colour, lose what they have imbibed from it. They are 

 generally found in April. These birds select, if possible, the same 

 places every year to lay in." 



Mr. Davison gives me the following note : " This species breeds 

 on the Nilghiris in April and May, laying usually seven eggs in 

 the hollow of a tree, or in holes in old walls, and I have even 

 known of a nest taken from under a large stone lying on the side 

 of a much-frequented road. I have noticed that the only pretence 

 of a nest was a few dried leaves and small twigs. I am not 

 certain whether these were brought into the hole by the bird, or, 

 as is most probably the case, were accidentally accumulated there. 

 It is curious how very closely the female sits, especially when the 

 eggs are much incubated. I have frequently put my hand into 



