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THE PICARIAN BIRDS 



with white, while the lesser coverts are edged with copper, and the primary quills 

 crossed with a band of white consisting of twin spots, the outer one smaller than 

 the inner one; the tail is purple, shot with violet, all but the central feathers with 

 an oblique subterminal bar of white; the under surface glossy steel blue; the breast 

 and upper part of the abdomen shining metallic green; the lower abdomen and under 

 tail coverts glossy purplish black; the bill and feet scarlet, and the iris dark hazel. 

 This species is an inhabitant of South Africa, whence it ranges as far north as 

 Angola on the west, and to Mombasa on the east coast. In Northeastern Africa, 



PURPLE-TAILED WOOD HOOPOE. 

 (One-third natural size.) 



and on the west coast from Senegambia to the Niger, its place is taken by the allied 

 species, /.' erythrorhynchus, distinguished by having the tail greenish blue instead of 

 purple. In habits all the wood hoopoes are very shy and wary, and very active and 

 erratic in their movements, always frequenting trees, and seldom descending to the 

 ground. They are said to breed in hollow trees and lay white eggs, and the nests 

 have the same offensive smell as those of the ordinary hoopoes. Mr. Ayres says 

 that the birds themselves have a very powerful and disagreeable smell, and he has 

 seen them creeping about the trunks and branches of trees, after the manner of 



