THE HOOPOE 40 



The iris is blackish brown. The feet are black and very 

 short. There is a tuft on the head like a fan, formed of a 

 double row of feathers, all of them tipped with black. 



Habitation. — In its wild state, the hoopoe remains, during summer, 

 in woods near meadows, and pasture land. In the month of August, 

 after hay-harvest, it goes in flocks into the plains ; it departs in September, 

 and does not return, till the end of the following April. It is more 

 frequently seen on the ground than perching *. 



In the house, it is not kept in a cage, but let range at will ; it is very 

 chilly, at least it is so fond of warmth that it is constantly on the stove, 

 and would rather let its beak be dried up than come away from it. 



Food. — When wild, it may be continually seen in fields, searching for 

 its favourite insects among cow dung and the excrements of other animals. 

 Some people put it into their granaries to clear them of weevils and 

 spiders ; this has succeeded very well, but to say that it also eats mice, is 

 certainly an error. 



In the house, it may be easily reared on meat, and white bread soaked 

 in milk, to which meal worms must be added fi-om time to time. 



Breeding. — The hoopoe lays from two to four eggs; its nest, placed 

 in the hole of some tree, is a mixture of cow dung and small roots. The 

 young are easily reared on the flesh of young pigeons ; but they cannot 

 pick it up well, because their tongue, about the size of half a bean, and 

 heart-shaped, is too short to turn the food into the throat. They 

 are obliged to throw their food in the air, holding the beak open to 

 receive it. 



Mode of Taking. — In the month of August, when a field has been 

 observed which the bird frequents most, a small well-limed rod of about 

 eight inches in length must be placed on a mole-hill, having two or three 

 meal worms fastened xo it by means of a thread aboutvjthree inches long. 

 As soon as the hoopoe sees the worms it darts upon them, and thus makes 

 the lime twig fall upon itself, which embarrasses it. But these birds, 

 whether taken young or old, can very rarely be' preserved. 



Attractive Qualities. — Independently of its beauty, its droll actions 

 are very amusing. For instance, it makes a continual motion with its 

 head, tapping the floor with its beak, so that it seems as if it M-alks with 

 a stick, at the same time shaking its crest, wings, and tail f. I have had 

 several of them in my house, and have always been diverted by their 

 singular grimaces. When any one looks at them steadily, they immediately 

 begin their droll tricks. 



The following is an extract from a letter written by M. fon Schauroth 

 on the hoopoe, which I think it is well to insert here : 



" With great care and attention, I was able last summer to rear two 

 young hoopoes, taken from a nest which was placed at the top of an oak 

 tree. These little birds followed me everywhere, and when they heard 

 me at a distance showed their joy by a particular chirping, jumped into 



* It is not common in Britain. — Translator. 



t It may be added that it also walks very gracefully.-— Translator. 



