THE COMMON WREN AND THE HOOPOE. 345 



Europ&us, Selby) was common in my vicinity, and likewise 

 throughout Scandinavia, from Scania to Lapland. In the 

 summer the resorts of this bird (often called Tumme-liten, 

 or the little thumb) are for the most part thickets near to 

 water ; but in the autumn it draws more towards villages and 

 houses, in the vicinity of which it remains during the winter. 

 It is a common bird in Denmark. 



The Hoopoe fHar-fogel, Sw. ; Upupa Epops, Linn.), 

 though scarce, is found in the southern and more central 

 parts of Sweden, and also in Norway. It is a bird of passage, 

 appearing in Scania about the 25th of April, and taking its 

 departure from thence in August or September. It is found, 

 but sparingly, in Denmark. 



The hoopoe is a restless and shy bird. Wooded districts 

 such as are near to water, more especially are its favourite 

 haunts. During the autumn it is much on the ground, but 

 if disturbed it takes to a tree. It is very fleet of foot. When 

 passive its crest is down, but if irritated or frightened, it is 

 held erect. Its oft-repeated cry, opp-opp-opp, opp-opp-opp, 

 is frequently heard in the wilds of the forest ; and as on one's 

 approach the bird generally moves off unperceived, and is 

 audible in another direction, the sound is believed by the 

 vulgar to proceed from some aerial being, and has given rise 

 to many superstitious notions. Amongst the rest this ominous 

 cry is supposed to forebode seasons of scarcity and war, and 

 hence the origin of the hoopoe's Swedish name of Har- 

 fogel, or army-bird. 



The hoopoe feeds on insects, especially those found in low 

 and marshy grounds or amongst horse-dung ; as also on ants 

 and their eggs. It forms its nest in a hollow tree, in a cleft of 

 a rock, or in a hole of a wall ; sometimes also on the ground. 



