O F B I R D S. 335 



black and white alternately ; the former in little fpots, the latter 

 in tranfverfe lines. The tail, is compofed of ten feathers, about 

 four inches and a half long, with a-handfome white crefcenton 

 a black ground in the middle,, the gibbofe part being towards' 

 the rump, which is white, and the horns towards the end of the 

 tail, to which the wings nearly extend, when clofed. The eyes 

 are fmall and fprightly, the iris of a hazel-colour ; the lower 

 eye-lid larger than the upper. The legs are Ihort and llendcr, 

 the outer toe at the bafe connected to the middle one without the 

 help of a membrane ; the claws pretty large and fharp. It wants 

 the blind guts as well as the wood-peckers, and feeds like them 

 on beetles and their hexapod-worms. It builds in woods, in 

 hollow trees, and lays two eggs, of an am-colour. It is very 

 irregular in its motion in flying, as full of perplexity and dif- 

 compofure. It fits moftly on the ground; fometimes on the 

 'willow, very folitary ; ufing a note like its name, Hoopoe, in loud 

 and quick repetitions. The bird here defcribed was mot in the 

 latter end of September on the fea-banks near Chibburn, and pre- 

 fented to me. Mr. Ray refers us to Northumberland and Surrey. 

 for it *.' 



Tereus is reprefented by Ovid as turned into this bird, and with 

 his creft difplayed purfuing his wife Progne. . 



" Vertitur in Volucrem cut funt pro vertice Criftae 

 " Protinus immodicum furgit pro cufpide roflrum 

 " Nomen EPOPS Volucri, Facies armata videtur." 



For the variety and order of its plumage, its elegant and beau- 

 tiful crown, renewed every winter, the Egyptians made it the 



. * Ornitkil. 



fym- 



