THE HOOPOE. 149 



•exultation, and repaired to every stream or puddle in order to admire the reflection of their 

 crowns in tlie water. 



But before very long, a fowler happened to see one of the promoted birds, and on taking 

 it in his net discovered the value of its cro\vTi. Immediately the whole country was in an 

 uproar, and from that moment the Hoopoes had no rest. Every fowler spread his nets for 

 them, every archer lay in wait for them, and every little boy set his springle or laid his rude 

 trap, in hope of catching one of these valuable birds. At last they were so wearied with per- 

 secution, that they sent one or two of the survivors to Solomon, full of repentance at their 

 rejection of his ad\ice, and begging him to rescind the gift which they had so unwisely 

 demanded. Solomon granted their request, and removed the golden crown from their heads ; 

 but, being unwilling that the birds should be left without a mark by which they might be dis- 

 tinguished from their fellows, he substituted a crown of feathers for that of gold, and dis- 

 missed them rejoicing. 



The Turks call the Hoopoe Tir-Chaous, or Courier Bird, because its feathery crown bears 

 some resemblance to the plume of feathers which the chaous or courier wears as a token of his 

 office. The Swedes are rather fearful of the Hoopoe, and dread its presence, which is rare in 

 their country, as a presage of war, consideiing the plume as analogous to a helmet. Even in 

 England the uneducated rustics think it an unlucky bird, most probably on account of some 

 old legend which, although forgotten, has not entirely lost its powers of exciting prejudice. 



The food of the Hoopoe is almost entirely of an insect nature, although the bird will 

 frequently vary its diet with tadpoles and other small creatures. Beetles and their larvfe, 

 caterpillars and grubs of all kinds, are a favorite food with the Hoopoe, which displays much 

 ingenuity in digging them out of the decayed wood in which they are often found. The 

 jetant {Formica fuliginbsa), which greatly haunts the centre of decaying trees, is also eaten 

 by tills bird. 



Tlie nest is made in hollow trees, and consists of dried grass stems, feathers, and other 

 soft substances. The eggs are of a. light gray color, and in number vary from four to seven. 

 They are laid in May, and the young make their appearance in June. It is worthy of notice 

 that the beak of the young Hoopoe is short and quite straight, not attaining its long curved 

 fomi until the bird has attained its fuU growth. The nest of the Hoopoe has a very pungent 

 and disgusting odor, which was long thought to be caused by putrid food brought by the 

 parent birds to their young, and the Hoopoe was therefore supposed to enact a part analogous 

 to that of the vulture, and to perform the office of a scavenger. But, as the reader will doiibt- 

 lessly liave observed, the food of the Hoopoe consists chiefly of living insects, and could have 

 no such ill effects. The real reason of the evil odor is that the tail-glands of these birds 

 secrete a substance that is extremely offensive to human nostrils, although it is unheeded by 

 the birds themselves. 



The name Hoopoe is doubly appropriate to this bird, as it may be either derived from the 

 crest {Jiu.pjje), or from the peculiar sound which the bird is fond of uttering, and which 

 resembles the syllable hoop ! hoop ! which, as Mr. Yarrell observes, ' ' is breathed out so softly, 

 yet rapidly, as to remind the hearer of the note of the dove." The pace of the Hoopoe is a 

 tripping kind of walk, which is at times very quick and vivacious, and sometimes is slow and 

 stately as if the bird were mightily i^roud of its crested head. When at liberty it is generally 

 found in sequestered spots, preferring low, marshy grounds, and the vicinity of woods, because 

 in these places it is certain to find plenty of food. 



The Hoopoe is a hardy bird in captivity, and from all accounts seems to be very interest- 

 ing in its habits. From the many histories of caged or domesticated Hoopoes, I select the 

 following, as they give a very good idea of the bird and its peculiarities. The first account is 

 written by Mr. Blyth, in a contribution to the Magazine of Natural History : — 



"On beholding six of these birds confined in a very roomy cage, I was particularly struck 

 with their vivacity and quick and expressive physiognomy ; and a scene not a little amusing 

 was exhibited on holding to them a morsel of meat. In a moment they all crowded eagerly to 

 seize it, uttering a wheezing cry, and following my hand with rapidity about the cage, one or 

 two of them sometimes clinging to the wires ; and when at length two or three pieces were 



