THE HOOPOE. ,253 



the principal colours being the same, viz., black, 

 white, and pale cinnamon brown ; but the dis- 

 tribution of colour is different, and the flight is 

 not so rapid, and more undulating. The wings 

 are large for the size of the bird, and the first- 

 quill feather being much shorter than the second, 

 the wing has a rounded appearance which 

 makes the flight seem heavier. 



It is a shy bird, taking wing on the least 

 alarm, except when surprised by a hawk or 

 other large bird, when, according to the obser- 

 vations of the German naturalists, Naumann 

 and Bechstein, it resorts to a very singular 

 expedient to protect itself. It squats upon the 

 ground, spreads out its tail and wings to their 

 fullest extent, bringing the primaries round so 

 as almost to meet in front, and throws back its 

 head and bill, which it holds up perpendicularly. 1 

 So long as danger threatens, it remains in this 



1 For a notice of this singular habit I am indebted to my 

 friend Mr. H. E. Dresser, who has translated Naumann's 

 observations on the subject in his beautiful work on the 

 " Birds of Europe." 



