50 THE HOOPOE. 



the air, or as soon as I was seated climbed on my clothes, particularly 

 when giving them their food from a pan of milk, the cream of which 

 they swallowed greedily ; they climbed higher and higher, till at last they 

 perched on my shoulders, and sometimes on my head, caressing me very 

 affectionately : notwithstanding this, I had only to speak a word to rid 

 myself of their company, they would then immediately retire to the stove. 

 Generally they would observe my eyes to discover what my temper might 

 be, that they might act accordingly. I fed them like the nightingales, 

 or with the universal paste, to which I sometimes added insects ; they 

 would never touch earth-worms, but were very fond of beetles and May- 

 bugs, these they first killed, and then beat them with their beak into a 

 kind of oblong ball ; when this was done, they threw it into the air, that 

 tliey might catch it and swallow it lengthways ; if it fell across the throat 

 they were obliged to begin again. Instead of bathing, they roll in the 

 sand. I took them one day into a neighbouring field, that they might 

 catch insects for themselves, and had then an opportunity of remarking 

 their innate fear of birds of prey, and their instinct under it. As soon as 

 they perceived a raven, or even a pigeon, they were on their bellies in the 

 twinkling of an eye, their wings stretched out by the side of their head, 

 so that tne large quill feathers touched : they were thus surrounded by a 

 sort of crown, formed by the feathers of the tail and wings, the head 

 leaning on tlie back, with the beak pointing upwards ; in this curious 

 posture they might be taken for an old rag. As soon as the bird which 

 frightened them was gone they jumped up immediately, uttering cries of 

 joy. They were very fond of Ijing in the sun ; they showed their 

 content by repeating in a quivering tone, " vec, vec, vec ;" when angry 

 their notes are harsh, and the male, which is knoMTi by its colour being 

 redder, cries '■'■hoop, hoop." The female had the trick of dragging its 

 food about the room, by this means it was covered with small feathers and 

 other rubbish, which by degrees formed into an indigestible ball in ita 

 stomach, about tUb size of a nut, of which it died. The male lived 

 through the winter ; but not quitting the heated stove, its beak became 

 so dry that the two parts separated, and remained more than an inch apart; 

 thus it died miserably." 



"I once saw," says Buffon, *'one of these birds which had been taken 

 in a net, and being then old, or at least adult, must have had natural 

 habits : its attachment to the person who took care of it was very strong, 

 and even exclusive. It appeared to be happy only when alone with her ; 

 if strangers came unexpectedly it raised its crest with surprise and fear, 

 and hid itself on the top of a bed which was in the room. Sometimes it 

 was bold enough to come from its asylum, but it fled directly to its 

 beloved mistress, and seemed to see no one but her. It had two very 

 different tones ; one soft, as if from within, and seemed the vepy seat of 

 sentiment, which it addressed to its mistress ; the other sharp, and more 

 piercing, which expressed anger and fear. It was never kept in a cage by 

 day or night, and was permitted to range the house at pleasure : however, 

 though the windows were often open, it never showed the least desire to 

 escape, its wish for liberty not being so strong as its attachment. 



" This pretty bird accidentally died of hunger. Its mistress had kept 

 h for four months, feeding it only on bread and cheese." 



