THE HOOPOE. 



THE length of this bird is twelve inches, and 

 the breadth nineteen. The bill is above two 

 inches long, black, slender, and somewhat 

 curved ; the tongue very short and triangular ; 

 the eyes are hazel ; the head is ornamented 

 with a crest, consisting of a double row of fea- 

 thers, of a pale orange colour, tipped with 

 black, the highest about two inches in length ; 

 this, which reaches from the bill to the top of 

 the neck, the animal can raise or let fall at 

 pleasure ; the neck is of a pale reddish brown ; 

 the under part of the body is white, and, in the 

 young ones, marked with dusky lines, pointing 

 downwards ; the back, scapular, and wings, are 

 crossed with broad bars of black and white ; 

 the lesser coverts of the wings, light brown : 

 the tail consists of ten feathers, each marked 

 with white, which, when closed, assume the 

 form of a crescent, the horns pointing down- 

 wards : the legs are short and black. 



(100) 



