COMMON HOOPOE. 137 



is rank and uneatable, but that of the migrating 

 birds is considered in many parts of Europe as an 

 agreeable food, particularly in Italy, the south of 

 France, and in the Grecian islands. The nest, or 

 rather hole of the Hoopoe is generally said to have 

 a peculiarly fetid smell: sometimes, however, it is 

 said to be strewed with moss, wool, dry leaves, &c. 

 and to have no disagreeable scent. Sometimes the 

 bird breeds in the hole of a wall, but more gene- 

 rally in the hollow of a tree ; seldom higher than 

 about ten feet from the ground; and instances have 

 been known in which the eggs have been placed 

 on the ground, or among the roots of old trees. 

 The number of eggs is from five to seven, and 

 their colour a blueish white, speckled with brown. 

 The disagreeable smell proceeding from the nest 

 or hole of the Hoopoe is supposed to be chiefly 

 owing to the remains of various kinds of insects, 

 with which it is generally crowded, and among 

 which the young are as it were imbedded. 



In Egypt the wild or migrating Hoopoes are 

 never observed to associate with those of the 

 towns, but frequent remote and solitary places. 

 Those which make their appearance in Europe 

 are generally of this disposition; but in Africa 

 they associate in great numbers. 



The ordinary food of the Hoopoe consists of 

 various kinds of insects and worms, and hence, as 

 Buffon observes, " it usually haunts wet grounds, 

 where its long and slender bill can easily pene- 

 trate ; and hence in Egypt it follows the retreat of 

 the Nile ; for in proportion as the waters subside, 



