CXI. 



UPUFA EPOS. (1.1 NN.) 

 Hoopoe. 



The best account of the summer habits of the Hoopoe 

 which I have seen, is by Mr. E. H. Greenhow, in the seventh 

 volume of Loudon's Magazine, which I will here take the 

 liberty of transcribing in his ovvti words : — " On the Bordeaux 

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

 marshy ground, intersected by broad ditches and creeks, ter- 

 minating 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 tribes of insects. In 

 these retired places, which are frequented only by a few cow- 

 herds and countrj' 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 seaich. It remains the 

 whole year, and breeds in a hollow willow, about the end of 

 May, laying two eggs. The young come out in June." 

 Instances are given, which render it probable that the Hoopoe 

 would breed in this country, if permitted, on its next periodi- 

 cal visit, to remain unmolested. Montague mentions a pair 

 which began a nest iu Hampshire ; and Mr. Blyth says, that 

 other two frequented a garden in the neighbourhood of 

 Tooting, Surrey, in 1833. 



