THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 6l 



HOOPOES (Upupidce). 



DIAGNOSIS. Perching birds, with long, slender bills, 

 broad wings, and short legs t with three toes in front 

 and a smaller hind-toe. 



SIZE. From that of a dove to that of a lark. 



FORM. Bill long, slender, more or less curved down, 

 with the corner of mouth under front of eye, and 

 the tongue very short ; feet with short shanks 

 and three toes in front, nearly free, and a hind-toe 

 shorter than the rest, but well developed ; wings 

 short, but broad and rounded ; tail medium or long. 



PLUMAGE AND COLOURATION. Chiefly black-and-white, 

 combined with sandy-brown in the typical 

 Hoopoes ; no sex-difference or seasonal change, 

 and young like adults or differing but little. 



YOUNG. Naked and helpless, with soft expanded skin 

 at corners of mouth. 



NEST. In a hole, scantily-lined and ill-smelling. 



EGGS. Several ; greenish-white or sea-green ; un- 

 spotted. 



INCUBATION. Sixteen days in the Common Hoopoe. 



COURTSHIP. In the Common Hoopoe (Upupa epops) 

 the male erects his crest, as he does also when 

 afraid or angry. 



FOOD. Insects, and other small invertebrates. 



GAIT. In the true Hoopoes a mincing walk like a 

 pigeon's ; they perch at times ; the Kakelaars, or 

 Wood -hoopoes, are entirely tree-birds, and climb 

 about the trunks and boughs like Woodpeckers. 



FLIGHT. Light and easy 5 but not fast, performed in 

 an undulating manner ; in the Common Hoopoe 

 the neck is drawn in and the feet tucked up in 

 front, and the crest lies so flat that it is not notice- 

 able ; this bird escapes from hawks with ease. 



NOTE. A soft hoot in ordinary Hoopoes, or a jarring 

 sound ; the Wood -hoopoes cackle noisily. 



