48 



THE HOOPOE 



mother, and mew like cats. If any one 'dishes to rear them they must 

 be taken early from the nest ; fed on ants' eggs, chopped meat and while 

 bread soaked in milk, varying these things as their health requires, and 

 as their excrements are too frequent or too soft. In short, they may be 

 accustomed to the nightingale's food. I must here remark that a very 

 attentive person alone can hope to succeed *. 



Attractive Qualities. — I have seen two golden orioles that were 

 reared from the nest, one of which, independent of the natural song, 

 whistled a minuet, and the other imitated a flourish of trumpets. Its full 

 and flute-like tones appeared to me extremely pleasing. Unfortunately 

 the fine colours of its plumage were tarnished, which almost always 

 happens, above all if the bird be kept in a room filled -srith smoke, either 

 fjom the stove or from tobacco. One of my neighbours saw two golden 

 orioles at Berlin, both of which whistled different airs. 



Its note of call, which in the month of June so well distinguishes 

 the golden oriole from other birds, may be well expressed by " ye, 

 puhlotc" 



THE HOOPOE. 



-^i^- 



Upupa Epops, LiNN^us ! 



La Huppe, Boffon; Der gemeine "Wiedehopf, 

 Bechstein. 



The length of this bird is twelve inches, of which the tail 

 measures four, and the bill, which is black, two and a half. 



* These young birds like to wash ; but it is dangerous for them to have the 

 water too cold, or to let them remain too long in it, as cramp in the feet may 

 be the consequence. In one which we possessed, the accident was more vexatious 

 as the bird was otherwise in good health, having followed the above mentioned 

 diet. — Translator. 



t The natural song is very like the awkward attempts of a country boy with a 

 bad musical ear to whistle the notes of the missel thrush.— Translator. 



