THE HOOPOE 83 



The curious name comes from the bird's curious call- 

 note, sounding just like " houp, houp." He has one 

 or two other notes, expressing anger or alarm, but 

 " houp, houp " is the regular cry, until after nesting 

 days, when he grows silent. 



He seems a proud bird, and well aware of his peculiar 

 charms, for ever raising and lowering his crest as if 

 to show off, and making all manner of odd movements. 

 Thus one bird will bow and nod to another, after the 

 way of a turtle-dove. 



Those who have been able to study the hoopoe in his 

 favourite haunts tell us that when frightened, as by a 

 hawk, he throws himself flat on the ground, out- 

 spreading his wings, when he looks more like a collec- 

 tion of coloured rags than a bird. A very curious sight 

 it must be to see a family party of five or six birds all 

 performing this odd deceptive trick at the same moment 

 when suddenly startled ; until the time comes for 

 a dash to the nearest cover, whence will ring out 

 triumphantly a loud " houp, houp." 



Another trick of the hoopoe is to throw its prey 

 into the air, to catch it again in the long bill before 

 swallowing. He is fond of beetles especially, and for 

 these haunts fields where cattle have grazed. 



The nest is in a hole in an old tree. In the East, 

 where the bird is not afraid of man, the nest may be 

 in a house in the middle of a village. The tameness 

 of the bird has been his undoing in our country. 



" I once knew a tame redbreast in a cage that always sang as long 

 as candles were in the room." 



