HOOPOE. 177 



Mr. Bartlett for the opportunity of observing a living speci- 

 men, a fine male, now in his possession. This bird is quite 

 tame, and when unexcited, the high crest falls flat over the 

 top of the head, and covers the occiput ; it takes a meal- 

 worm from the hand very readily, nibbles and pinches 

 it between the ends of the mandibles, then putting it on 

 the ground, strikes it several blows with the point of the 

 beak ; when the insect is apparently dead or disabled it is 

 again taken up, and by a particular motion of the head, 

 which is thrown backward, and the beak opened, the meal- 

 worm drops into the gape of the mouth and is swallowed. 

 The call for another is a sharp note ; but it also utters at 

 times a sound closely resembling the word, hoop, hoop, 

 hoop,* but breathed out so softly, but rapidly, as to remind 

 the hearer of the note of the Dove. This bird constantly 

 rubs himself in the sand with which the bottom of his large 

 cage is supplied, dusting himself like the Larks, but takes 

 great care to shake off any sand or gravel that may adhere 

 to his food, which is raw meat, chopped and boiled egg. He 

 hides superfluous food, and resorts to his hoard when 

 hungry. When allowed to come out of his cage, he takes 

 short flights about the room ; but would not be considered 

 a bird of great power on the wing; yet the Bishop of 

 Norwich has recorded that "one approached a vessel in the 

 middle of the Atlantic, and kept company with it a good 

 way, but did not settle on board, which it probably would 

 have done had it been tired." , 



At the moment of settling on the floor of the room, Mr. 

 Bartlett's bird bends the head downward till the point of 

 the beak touches the floor, after which, as well as occa- 



* The note probably suggested the name, which, according to Turner, was an 

 Howpe ; Germanice, ein Houp. The French name, La Huppe, is particularly 

 appropriate, from its double reference to the crest and the note. 



VOL. II. N 



