HOOPOE. 299 



Messrs. Gurney and Fisher, writing of the hoopoe in 

 1846, speak of it as of "not unfrequent occurrence in 

 Norfolk, appearing at irregular intervals and generally 

 in the autumn;" yet, correct as this statement 

 undoubtedly was at the time, and agreeing also 

 with Yarrell's general account of its arrival in other 

 parts of the kingdom, it has since, most un- 

 questionably, become a very regular spring visitant, its 

 appearance in autumn being the exception and not 

 the rule, as the subjoined list of such specimens as 

 have come under my own observation during the last 

 fourteen years, in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, 

 sufficiently proves. I do not suppose that this list, 

 although containing a large proportion, comprises 

 nearly all that have been either seen or killed on our 

 coast since 1850, but it shows, at least, that one or more 

 specimens have been seen from year to year, except in 

 1855 and 1861 ; when, in both instances, the extreme 

 severity of the weather until late in the season might 

 account for its non-arrival. The great regularity of 

 its appearance in spring is also remarkable, the dates 

 varying between the llth of April and the 28th of 

 May, and even including the extraordinary number 



hoopebird with us ; in Greek epops, in Latin upupa. We are little 

 obliged unto our school instruction, wherein we are taught to 

 render upupa a lapwing, which bird our natural writers name 

 vanellus ; for thereby we mistake this remarkable bird, and appre- 

 hend not rightly what is delivered of it. * * * * Again, 

 not knowing or mistaking this bird, we may mis-apprehend, or 

 not closely apprehend, that handsome expression of Ovid, when 

 Tereus was turned into an upupa or hoopebird : 



' Vertitur in volucrem cui sunt pro vertice cristse, 

 Protinus immodicum surgit pro cuspide rostrum 

 Nomen epops volucri, facies armata videtur.' 



For in this military shape he is aptly fancied even still revenge- 

 fully to pursue his hated wife Progne : in the propriety of his note, 

 crying out, pou, pou, ubi, ubi; or, where are you ? " 

 2 Q 2 



