134 UPUPID^E. 



yellow, bordered below by a black line. Tail green, long ; two centre 

 feathers an inch longer than others. Length 10-11 inches. 



UPUPIDJE. 



163. Upupa epops, Linnaeus. The Hoopoe. 



Moorish. Hudhud, Tair ababil, Kubaa deen Nasara (the 

 Christian's Crested Lark). Spanish. Abubilla, Gallo de Marzo, 

 Cajonera, Cagajonera, Sabubilla. 



" Seen in great quantities near Tangier on passage, crossing to 

 Europe during February, March, and April, returning, to retire 

 altogether for the winter, in August, September, and October. 

 In some years the vernal migration is earlier, and they are seen 

 at the end of January. They rarely remain to nest near Tangier. 

 The females have a nearly white throat. The superstitious Jews 

 and Mahometans both believe that the heart and feathers of the 

 Hoopoe are charms against the machinations of evil spirits." 

 Earner. 



' Hoopoes seldom remain to nest in the vicinity of Gibraltar : 

 Verner, in 1875, found a nest in a hollow tree in the Sierra 

 Retin, which contained four fresh eggs on 31st May, and a few 

 breed about Casas Viejas, and thence northwards, where there 

 are trees ; towards Moron and Seville their " hood, hood" may 

 be frequently heard in spring and summer. They begin to lay 

 about the 1st of May, in holes of trees. 



My dates of their earliest arrival at Gibraltar are: the 17th 

 of February, 1870; 18th of February, 1871; IGth of February, 

 1872; 17th of February, 1894; but on the llth of January in 

 1872 I saw a single Hoopoe in the Goto del Eey. Verner first 

 noticed them in 1875 on 17th of February; 1876 on the 18th; 

 in 1879 on the 21st; Mr. Irby, 60th Eifles, on 17th of February, 

 1892 ; whilst Capt. Savile Reid informed me of one appearing as 

 early as the 16th of January in 1874. They mostly pass in March, 

 whence their local name Gallo de Mdrzo, March-cock. 



