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With much perseverance they were brought safely to

England, where, as soon as the warmer weather came, they were

placed in a small outdoor aviary. After a week or so I ventured

to open the door and let them fly loose in the garden, and it was

the prettiest and most uncommon sight to see seven Hoopoes

flitting along the terrace towards me when they spied the tin of

mealworms in my hand. Gradually they found their way all

round the garden immediately surrounding the house, but,,

curiously enough, never seemed to trust themselves out of its

sight.


Very quickly their natural instinct taught them to prod

with their long bills in the turf of the lawn, and it was very

interesting to notice their movements when a grub was felt an

inch or two under the surface, shewing that the tip of the bill

must be extremely sensitive for this purpose. When once a

Hoopoe commenced to dig with quick movements, a large brown

grub was almost sure to be pulled out, when it was knocked

about for a few seconds and then swallowed, the bird throwing

his head back, opening his bill, and chucking the insect down

his throat.


People’s astonishment was great when I walked them

round the garden. If the Hoopoes were out of sight I used to

whistle, and almost immediately the}" would come flitting to

within a few yards of me, erecting their crests as they settled,

aud then running quickly along with their short little legs, their

heads nodding as they ran. They were most charming pets (I

say ‘ were,’ for alas, they are all dead !) for they seemed to have

no fear, and with the full liberty of wild birds, were absolutely

tame.


The housekeeper used to feed them from the window of

her room, and they would go in and out there at all times of the

day, sometimes if the lattice was closed, tapping at the panes

with their bills. Why they died is a mystery to me, for they all

collapsed before September was out, and had in the meanwhile

had every privilege : magnificent weather, full exercise, natural

food as well as ants’ eggs, mealworms and raw meat when they

needed it; and yet as each one moulted their skin seemed to be

attacked by a sort of scurvy, and the new feathers dropped out

w 7 hen about half grown and when still to a great extent in the

quill stage.


One or two of them had fits into the bargain, and all

seven died. It was most sad, but in spite of their loss, the gain

has been great. Whilst they lived they w T ere most beautiful and



