54 PASSERES. UPUPAD.E. 



FAMILY I. UPUPAD.E. 



(Hoopoes.) 



The Hoopoes constitute a small, and somewhat 

 isolated Family, having some relations with the 

 Tribe we have just dismissed. They have an elong- 

 ated, curved, slender beak, much compressed, but 

 somewhat dilated at the base ; the nostrils, which 

 are pierced near the base, are more or less covered 

 with small velvety feathers which point forwards. 

 The feet have the outer pair of toes partially 

 united, as in several of the fissirostral genera. 

 The toes are long and strong, the claws almost 

 straight, that of the hind toe lengthened. 



The birds of this Family are few in number, 

 but of rather large size, and have much of the 

 habit and appearance of the Crows. They walk 

 on moist land, as pasture-grounds and newly 

 turned earth, in search for insects and their larvae ; 

 but some species, as those of the genus Promerops, 

 seek for minute insects in the corollas of flowers. 

 The Family is confined to the Old World, and 

 most of them are African and Indian. 



GENUS UPUPA. (LiNN.) 



The true Hoopoes have the beak very long and 

 slender, slightly curved through its length, and 

 compressed at the sides: the nostrils are basal, 

 small, covered by a scale, and surmounted by the 

 feathers of the forehead. The wings are long 

 and rounded : the tail long and broad. The toes 

 are three before, and one behind; the hind-toe 



