160 THE HOOPOE. 



which by degrees formed into an indigestible ball in its 

 stomach, about the 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 mise- 

 rably." 



Buffon gives an account of one which was taken in a 

 net when full grown, and became very much attached to 

 its mistress, to whom it would fly for protection. It had 

 two very different tones ; one soft and inward, seeming, as 

 Buffon says, to proceed from the very seat of sentiment, 

 this it addressed to its beloved mistress ; the other sharp 

 and more piercing, which expressed anger and fear. It 

 was not confined ; and though it had the full range of the 

 house, and the windows were often open, it never showed 

 the least desire to escape ; its love of liberty not being so 

 strong as its attachment. It is painful to add that this 

 amiable bird died of hunger. 



The hoopoe was not without its uses in the old Materia 

 Medico,. Thus we read that its heart was good against 

 pains in the side ; that the tongue suspended (round the 

 neck, we suppose) helped a bad memory ; while a fumi 

 gation of the feathers was a vermifuge, and the skin cured 

 the head-ache when placed on the ailing part. 



Moreover, he who wished to dream astonishing dreams, 

 had only to anoint his temples with hoopoe's blood, and 

 the wonderful vision was sure to follow. 



Jonston, who enumerates these formula, adds with great 

 gravity, that he disbelieves the assertion that the right 

 wing of the bird and a tooth, suspended at the head of a 

 sleeper, will keep him in slumber till it be removed. 



The plumage of the bird is too well known to need de- 

 scription here. The female is similar to the male, witl 

 the exception that her tints are less bright. Those wl 

 have tasted the flesh describe it as very unpalatable. 



