ORDER PASSERES. 399 



times in an old tree, as a willow, &c. ; and sometimes it 

 places it on the ground amid the roots. It is pretended that 

 it invests it with potters'" clay, and iJso with the most infec- 

 tious substances, which produce a disagreeable exhalation 

 from the young birds. This, however, appears to be more 

 than doubtful ; for the bird, in general, is known to make its 

 nest of dried leaves and moss, without any fetid materials. 

 It lays from four to seven eggs, ashen grey, of an elongated 

 form, and a little more bulky than those of the blackbird. It 

 has various cries, but no song. 



In a state of liberty the hoopoe feeds on terrestrial insects, 

 worms, berries, and vegetable substances. In captivity it 

 is nourished with raw meat, in long cuts. It grows very 

 fat in autumn, and its flesh is in great request in Italy, 

 in the islands of the Archipelago, and in various districts of 

 France. 



The hoopoe, taken young or old, soon grows familiar, and 

 will accommodate itself to various kinds of food which it 

 would not take when free. It must never be kept in a cage, 

 but suffered to run freely through gardens and houses. Like 

 all insectivorous birds, it drinks little. 



Of the Promerops and Epimachi we are unable to add 

 any thing to the specific descriptions of the text and table. 

 The Epimachi are classed with the Promerops by most natu- 

 ralists. 



We now proceed to the last family of the Passeres, resuming 

 the text of M. Cuvier. 



