( 47 ) 



THE HOOPOES. 



THE Hoopoe is diftinguifhed by a double aigrette, or cred, 

 which is almoft peculiar to himfelf (or refembled only by the 

 Cockatoo), by his long bill, thin and curved, and his fliortfcet ; about equal 

 to the thrufh in fize ; belongs to the old continent. One of thefe birds, 

 taken when full grown, became fo attached to its keeper, as to be jealous 

 of the prefence of ftrangers, and to fet up his tufc j was always with 

 his miftrefs, could not bear reparation, nor was he defirous of li- 

 berty. Was fo fond of mufic, as to ftand on the harplichord fo long as 

 his miftrefs played. Eats infecfts ; follows the courfe of the Nile in 

 Egypt for this purpofe ; in Europe are birds of pafiage ; neftle in the 

 holes of trees, or in walls ; their nefts filthy, lay two to feven eggs. 



THE PROMEROPS 



GREATLY refembles the Hoopoe; has no creft, but two frizzled 

 tufcs of feathers on each fide the body, compofed of nine long 

 feathers, which are capable of elevation, as are alfo fome of the fcapu- 

 lary feathers, which, when raifed together, aflume the form of a fan ; 

 thefe being ornamented with brilliant green, and changeable blue and 

 violet, give a fort of garland-like appearance to the wings. From thefe 

 frizzled feathers, originate on each fide a dozen or fifteen long feathers, 

 which have the fame reflections. The head and belly are green, the reft 

 chiefly black j bill and feet black; tail very long. One fpecies is orange- 

 coloured. 



THE BEE-EATERS 



ARE fo named from their food j not that they eat only bees, for they 

 devour wafps, and other flying infects, which they chafe much like 

 fvvallows. The children in the ifte of Candia ufe fuch infefts for baits 

 for them, znd Jijh for them by lines hung in the air, on precifely the fame 

 principles as baits are ufed for fifti ; the bee-eater fvvallows the infefh, and 

 is caught by the hook. Sometimes eat grain ; they perch on fruit trees, 

 and dart on their prey j lay in holes, which, with their ftrong and ftiorr 

 Part IV. No. 25. I . • feet. 



