436 THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 



the bird in the peculiar distribution of the colours resembles 

 that of the small scapulars and neck feathers of the Wryneck. 

 The marking of the outer wing-coverts is specially character- 

 istic in all of these the isabelline ground-colour is finely dusted 

 with grey and brownish, with a large round whitish isabelline 

 spot at the tip of each feather, which above is separated from the 

 rest of the outer web by a fine dark-brown irregular line ; these 

 large light spots at the tips of the feathers are disposed in four 

 rows across the wing when in repose. 



The underside of the bird is whitish isabelline, dusted on the 

 upper breast with light brownish grey markings, which at the sides 

 of the breast pass into irregular transverse lines, and almost entirely 

 disappear on the feathers of the flanks. The feathers of the thighs 

 are whitish isabelline without spots ; the same description applies to 

 the under tail-coverts, though in the largest pair of these there are 

 faint indications of transverse lines on the inner webs. The chin 

 of the bird displays the two large roundish white spots peculiar 

 to the genus. 



The flight-feathers in their barred markings resemble those 

 of the common species, except that the colour is infinitely lighter : 

 in my example, too, the great white spots of the first three flight- 

 feathers are absent. The tail-feathers are isabelline dusted with 

 brownish, and have seven brownish, irregular narrow dark trans- 

 verse bands ; the outermost pair of feathers below the last of the 

 bands is white and unspotted, and the next pair isabelline and 

 also without spots ; so that two large round light spots are thus 

 formed on the tips of the feathers on each side. 



The total length of the bird is 10-23 ins. (260 mm.) ; the length 

 of the wing in repose, 7'67 ins. (195 mm.); length of tail, 4-92 ins. 

 (125 mm.). The first flight-feather is but little shorter than the 

 second and third, which are the longest, the fourth being shorter 

 than these by -86 ins. (22 mm.). 



The breeding area of this species appears to extend from Egypt 

 to Turkestan. 



Hoopoe Upupa. This genus comprises but a very small number 

 of species, of which the European Upupa epops also inhabits Asia. 

 According to Jerdon (Birds of India) a very similar somewhat 

 smaller and darker coloured form, U. nigripennis, occurs in that 

 country. Africa possesses one or two species, besides forming the 

 winter quarters of the European species. 



