264 Certhiadce. 



indispensable ingredient in all charms and in the practice of 

 witchcraft. Moreover the Hudhud, as they call it, is univer- 

 sally believed by the Bedouins to be inhabited by the spirits 

 of the departed. 



It derives its scientific name ' Upupa,' as well as the English 

 ' Hoopoe/ German Ein Houp, and French La Huppe, from its 

 note, resembling 'hoop, hoop,' cooed out very softly after the 

 manner of the dove. Professor Newton says its simple love-song 

 is hoo, hoo, hoo ; or hoop, hoop, hoop ; or hoo, poo, poo ; and that 

 it will puff out its breast and strike its bill against its perch at 

 each note ; at other times, however, I have heard it emit a kind 

 of hissing sound. Then it will parade the ground with a stately 

 walk and a jaunty step, bowing its head as it marches on, and 

 alternately raising and lowering its crest in a slow and graceful 

 manner. In reference to its uncleanly habits, and to the fact 

 that it is nowhere more at home than on the foulest dunghill, it 

 was known even so long ago as the time of Montagu as the 

 4 dung- bird;' and in France 'sale comme une Huppe' is a 

 proverb, proclaiming a recognition of its filthy ways ; while in 

 China it goes by the name of the ' Coffin-bird ' from its habit of 

 breeding in the holes of exposed coffins, and is execrated by the 

 Chinese in consequence.* But though so foul a feeder, and of 

 such evil habits, it is highly esteemed by the epicure of all lands, 

 and many was the dish of Hoopoes with which our dragoman 

 supplied our table in the Nile boat. It may well be called a bird 

 of the Mediterranean, for it may be found in every country on 

 its shores, as it retires to~ winter in Northern Africa in September 

 and returns to Europe in March ; hence it is called by several 

 nations ' the March fowl,' and being the earliest of the feathered 

 visitors to arrive at Mentone, is locally termed there Le Coq de 

 Mars. In Scandinavia, where it is only found in summer as an 

 occasional straggler, its oft-repeated cry heard in the wilds of 

 the forest is looked upon with alarm, for it is supposed to 

 torbode scarcity and war, and hence the name given to it in 



Fourth edition of ' Yarrell's British Birds,' vol. ii., p. 424. 



