158 THE HOOPOE. 



parent-birds have supplied their young. This offensive 

 odor most probably gave rise to the story adopted by Aris- 

 totle, that the nest of the hoopoe was formed of the most 

 disgusting materials. When a hollow tree is not to be 

 found, the places selected are sometimes the fissures of 

 rocks, and the crevices of old buildings. The eggs are 

 generally four or five in number, of a grayish-white, spot- 

 ted with deep gray or hair-brown. 



Few birds are more entertaining in captivity : its beau- 

 tiful plumage, droll gesticulations and familiar habits soon 

 make it a favorite. When it perceives that it is observed 

 it begins to tap with its bill against the ground, (which, as 

 Bech stein observes, gives it the appearance of walking 

 with a stick, (at the same time often shaking its wings and 

 tail, and elevating its crest. This latter feat, which is 

 performed very frequently, and especially when the bird 

 is surprised or angry, is effected by a muscle situated on 

 the upper part of the head for the purpose. Its note of 

 anger or fear is harsh and grating, something like the noise 

 made by a small saw when employed in sawing, or the 

 note of a jay, but nothing like so loud. It gives utterance 

 to a soft note of complacency occasionally, and is not with- 

 out other intonations. The grating note is not always in- 

 dicative of anger or fear, for the bird generally exerts it 

 when it flies up, and settles on its perch. 



The following extract from a letter written by M. Von 

 Schauroth, given by Bechstein in his interesting little 

 book on stove-birds or cage-birds, cannot fail to interest 

 our readers : 



" With great care and attention," writes M. Von Schau- 

 roth, " 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 every where, and 

 when they heard me at a distance, showed their joy by a 

 particular chirping, jumped into the air, or, as soon as I 

 was seated, climbed on my clothes, particularly when 



