178 CERTHIAD^E. 



sionally at other times, the long feathers forming the crest 

 are alternately elevated and depressed in a slow and grace- 

 ful manner, the bird assuming an appearance of great 

 vivacity, running on the ground with a very quick step. 

 M. Necker, in his Memoir on the Birds of Geneva, says, 

 Hoopoes fight desperately, and leave the ground covered 

 with their feathers. 



A favourite locality for the Hoopoe on the Continent 

 has thus been described by a correspondent in the Maga- 

 zine of Natural History : " On the Bordeaux side of the 

 Garonne, and near the city, are large spaces of marshy 

 ground, intersected by broad ditches and creeks termi- 

 nating in the river ; where from the advantage derived 

 from the water, many poplars and willows are planted for 

 the sake of the twigs, which are much used for tying vines. 

 These trees being topped at about ten or twelve feet from the 

 ground, so as to induce them to sprout much, become very 

 thick, and, in the course of a few years, gradually decaying 

 at the centre, are attacked by numerous insects, particularly 

 the jet ant, Formica fuliginosa. In these retired places, which 

 are frequented only by a few cowherds and country people, 

 the Hoopoe, which is a very shy bird, may be frequently 

 observed examining the rotten wood, and feeding on the 

 insects with which it abounds. The Hoopoe flies low and 

 seldom, unless when disturbed, its food being so abundant 

 as to require little search. It breeds in a hollow willow 

 about the end of May. T[he young come out in June ; 

 but I could not ascertain the exact time required for 

 hatching." 



Mr. Gould mentions that a specimen was shot by J. 

 Lullivan, Esq. on the 28th of September, 1832, in his own 

 pleasure-grounds at Broom House, Fulham, only four miles 

 west from London. Further west it has been obtained in 



