336 



THE HOOPOE. 



the tail is rather long. The legs are short, and the claws strong and 

 decidedly curved. 



The common Hoopoe enjoys a very wide range of country, being 

 found in Northern Africa, where its principal home is generally 

 stationed, in several parts of x\sia, and nearly the whole of Europe. 



On account of Its 

 very striking and re- 

 markable form it has 

 attracted much no- 

 tice, and has been 

 the subject of innu- 

 merable legends and 

 strange tales, nearly 

 all of which relate 

 to its feathery ci'est. 

 The Turks call the 

 Hoopoe Tir- Chaous, 

 or " Courier-Bird,"" 

 because its feathery 

 crown bears some 

 resemblance to the 

 plume of feathers 

 The Hoopoe [ Upapa epops). which the chaous, or 



courier, wears as a 

 token of his office. The Swedes are rather fearful of the Hoopoe, 

 and dread its presence, which is rare in their country, as a presage 

 of war, considering the plume as analogous to a helmet. Even in our 

 own country the uneducated rustics think it an unlucky bird, most 

 probably on account of some old legend which, although forgotten, 

 has not lost completely its power of exciting prejudice. 



The food of the Hoopoe is almost entirely of an insect nature, 

 although the bird will frequently vary its diet with tadpoles and other 

 small creatures. Beetles and their larvae, caterpillars, and grubs of all 

 kinds are favorite food with the Hoopoe, which displays much ingenuity 

 in digging them out of the decayed wood in which they are often found. 

 The ](it-nnt (^Formica fuliginosa), which greatly haunts the centre of 

 decaying trees, is also eaten by this bird. 



The nest is made in hollow trees, and copsists of dried grass-stems, 

 feathers, and other soft substances. The eggs are of a light gray color, 

 and in number vary from four to seven. They are laid in May, and 

 the young make their appearance in June. It is worthy of notice 

 that the beak of the young Hoopoe is short and quite straight, not 

 attaining its long curved form until the bird has attained its full growth. 

 The nest of the Hoopoe has a very pungent and disgusting odor. 



