382 HOOPOE. 



in marshy places, planted with poplars and willows 

 for use of the vineyards. These trees being topped 

 down or pollared, gradually decay in the heart, 

 and are attacked by numerous tribes of insects, 

 particularly the formica fuliginosa, and there the 

 Hoopoes were frequently observed examining 

 the rotten wood, and feeding on the insects with 

 which it abounds.* The principal, if not the 

 only, food, seems to be insects, which it procures 

 chiefly on the ground. A specimen dissected by 

 Mr Selby, >had the stomach filled entirely with 

 the larva of tipulce and phalcence, no remains of 

 .perfect insects being visible. It is said to build 

 in hollow trees, or in crevices of walls, forming 

 the nest of dry grass or leaves, and lining it with 

 soft materials. 



Head adorned with an ample crest of broad 

 feathers, capable of being raised and depressed 

 at pleasure ; these feathers are of an orange brown, 

 of various intensity in different specimens, shad- 

 ing .nearly into white at the extremity, and 

 finished by an oval spot of black. The head, 

 neck, back, and breast, are reddish gray, tinted 

 with vinous purple, also varying in intensity, 

 and on the belly and vent shading into pure 

 white, dashed along the centre of the feathers on 

 the latter parts with umber brown. The -rump 

 is white, the upper tail coverts black. The wings 

 are black, and when closed and meeting on the 

 back, exhibit five white bands across the whole, 



* London's Mag. of Nat. Hist. vii. p. 155. 



