HOOPOES. 57 



worms, but were very fond of beetles and may- 

 bugs ; these they first killed, and then beat them 

 with their beak into a kind of oblong ball ; when 

 this was done they threw it into the air that they 

 might catch it and swallow it lengthwise; if it 

 fell across the throat they were obliged to begin 

 again. Instead of bathing they roll in the sand. 

 I took them one day into a neighbouring field 

 that they might catch insects for themselves, and 

 had then an opportunity of remarking their innate 

 fear of birds of prey, and their instinct under it. 

 As soon as they perceived a raven, or even a 

 pigeon, they were on their bellies in the twink- 

 ling of an eye, their wings stretched out by the 

 side of their head, so that the large quill-feathers 

 touched ; they were thus surrounded by a sort of 

 crown, formed by the feathers of the tail and 

 wings, the head leaning on the back, with the bill 

 pointing upwards : in this curious posture they 

 might be taken for an old rag. As soon as the 

 bird which frightened them was gone they jumped 

 up immediately, uttering cries of joy. They 

 were very fond of lying in the sun ; they showed 

 their content by repeating in a quivering tone, ( vec, 

 vec, vec ;' when angry their notes are harsh, and the 

 male, which is known by its colour being redder, 

 cries, ( hoop, hoop.' The female had the trick of 

 dragging her food about the room ; by this means 

 it became covered with small feathers, and other 

 rubbish, which by degrees formed an indigestible 

 mass in her stomach about the size of a nut, of 

 which she 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 miserably." 



