170 HOOPOE. CREEPER. HUMMING-BIRD. 



exactly like those of the king-fisher. Indeed it resembles 

 that bird in the general brilliancy of its colours, but its 

 appetites are totally different ; it feeds on bees, insects, 

 and sometimes on seeds. It is common in Italy, and par- 

 ticularly so in the island of Candia, or Crete ; but is never 

 seen in England, Other species of this beautiful little 

 bird are found in the oriental regions, but especially in 

 Bengal. 



THE HOOPOE. 



This bird occasionally visits the British islands, and is 

 found in various parts of Europe and Africa. The Turks 

 call it by a name signifying the messenger-bird, and the 

 Swedes consider its appearance as ominous of war. In 

 our own country, likewise, it was formerly deemed the 

 harbinger of some calamity, 



The hoopoe is a small bird, and feeds on various in- 

 sects, berries, and vegetables. It breeds in hollow trees, 

 and receives its name from its note. The head is adorned 

 with a most beautiful crest (a singularity which may well 

 distinguish it from all other birds) that rises about an inch 

 and a half high, and is composed of two series of feathers, 

 which the bird can elevate or depress at pleasure, 



THE CREEPER. 



This is a small bird, about the size of a wren ; and is 

 generally seen adhering to the trunks and boughs of trees, 

 and creeping along them like the woodpecker. Besides 

 the common creeper, there are various species found in dif- 

 ferent parts of the world ; one is called the wall-creeper, 

 which is sometimes seen in England. It receives its name 

 from creeping up walls, but builds its nest in the holes of 

 trees. 



THE HUMMING-BIRD. 



Linnaeus enumerates more than twenty species of this 

 very beautiful genus of birds, which is wholly confined to 



