Bati—lIdentification of the Animals and Plants of India. 328 
18. Tue Brrraxos or PsrrraKos (Birrakos, yutrakds). 
Paleornis eupatrius, Linn.—P. Alexandri, Auctorum. 
Ktesias describes the Bizraxos as a bird which “has a tongue and 
voice like the human, is of the size of a hawk, has a red bill, is 
adorned with a beard of a black colour, while the neck is red like 
cinnabar ; it talks like a man, in Indian; butif taught Greek, can talk in 
Greek also.” This description serves to distinguish it from among the 
five or six species of parroquets which occur in India, and it may confi- 
dently be identified with the above-named species, which is the largest 
and most commonly domesticated of them all. 
AKlian® says he was informed that there were ‘three species of 
outtakes or Yutrakos, all of which, if taught to speak as children are 
taught, become as talkative as children, and speak with a human voice; 
but in the woods they utter a bird-like scream, and neither send out 
any distinct and musical note, nor, being wild and untaught, are able 
to talk.” 
19. Taz Epoprs (“Ezow). 
Eupupa epops, Linn.—The Indian Hoopoe. 
The Indian hoopoe, according to Atlian,*' ‘‘is reputed to be double 
the size of ours, and more beautiful in appearance ; and while, as Homer 
says, the bridle and trappings of a horse are the delight of a Hellenic 
king, this hoopoe is the favourite plaything of the king of the Indians, 
who carries it on his hand, and toys with it, and never tires gazing in 
ecstasy on its splendour, and the beauty with which nature has adorned 
it. The Brachmanes make this particular bird the subject of a mythic 
story,” &c. 
The common hoopoe of Northern India is identical with the Euro- 
pean bird. In Southern India there isa nearly allied, but smaller bird, 
U. nigripennis. There is, therefore, no foundation for A¢lian’s state- 
ment that the Indian bird is double the size of the European, it being 
unlikely that any other bird could have been intended. 
It may be added, from Jerdon’s ‘‘ Birds of India,” that ‘‘in cap- 
tivity it is said to be readily tamed, and to show great intelligence and 
susceptibility of attachment. Mussulmans venerate the hoopoe on 
account of their supposing it to haye been a favourite bird of Solomon, 
who is said to have employed one as a messenger.’ 
49 Keloga in Photii, Bibl. lxxii. Cf. M‘Crindle’s Ancient India, p. 7. 
30 Hist. Anim., xvi. 1, 15. 
‘1 Hist. Anim., xvi. Cf. Megasthenes, by J. W. M‘Crindle, p. 159. 
