392 INSESSORES. UPUPA. 



faintly marked with transverse bars of a deeper shade. 

 Greater coverts and secondaries barred with blackish- 

 brown. Greater quills barred with blackish-brown, and 

 reddish- white. Over the eyes is a pale whitish or wood- 

 brown streak. Under parts pale wood-brown. Legs 

 yellowish-brown. Tail short, reddish-brown barred with 

 blackish-brown, and always carried erect. 

 The female does not vary from the male bird in colour or 

 markings. 



GENUS UPUPA, LINN. HOOPOE. 



GENERIC CHARACTERS. 



BILL long, compressed, slender, subulated, and curved. 

 Nostrils basal, egg-shaped, and open. Feet with three toes 

 before, and one behind ; the tarsus short ; the outer toe join- 

 ed to the middle one as far as the first joint ; hind toe strong. 

 Claws short, sharp, hooked, and deeply grooved beneath. 

 Tail composed of ten feathers, square at the end. Wings 

 long and ample ; having the first quill short ; the third and 

 sixth nearly equal ; and the fourth and fifth the longest. 



This genus contains only two species. The others (inclu- 

 ded in the genus Upupa of LATHAM, &c. and known by the 

 name of Promerops), have, as possessing essentially different 

 generic characters, been formed into a separate genus. 

 Some other birds also, improperly introduced into this genus, 

 have been removed, and classed according to the true cha- 

 racters and affinities they exhibit. 



