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bronchial tubes, onwards and outwards through the main tube or trachea. The trachea of the 

 Hoopoe is not dilatable; but its oesophagus is; and the puffing of its neck is caused by the 

 bulging of its oesophagus with swallowed air. There is no connexion between the oesophagus 

 and the trachea, and apparently no organ at the entrance to the former that could modify 

 sound ; what action, then, can this swallowed air be made to take in the production of the bird's 

 notes'? Pigeons have strikingly large air-crops, which they empty with each long coo, and refill 

 before they coo again. Many birds swell out the throat when calling or singing; and others 

 move it up and down ; these actions must also be caused by the swallowed air in the oesophagus, 

 and must modify the sounds in some way as variously used, adding power and richness in some 

 cases, or giving ventriloquistic effect in others. This question seems never to have been inquired 

 into before ; and I throw out the hint in hopes that others may help to elucidate the matter with 

 their investigations. As regards Pigeons, Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier suggests ' that the dilated 

 oesophagus and crop serve as a chamber of resonance, the air in which being thrown into vibra- 

 tion, may be expelled to produce a louder sound.' " 



Its food consists entirely of insects and their larvae, which it picks up from the ground, or 

 draws out of the ground or its holes with its long pointed beak. About pasturages, where 

 insects are to be found in the old cow-dung, it is regularly to be found in search of food, and is 

 fond of the various species of Scarabcei. Mr. Gatcombe tells us that the stomachs of all the 

 British specimens he examined contained larvae of beetles, and one killed near Plymouth, in May 

 1871, had the remains of larvae and elytra of beetles mixed with feathers from the bird's body. 

 Mr. Collett also found the remains of coleoptera, chiefly Bemhidia and Aphodii, in the stomach of 

 the example which he obtained near Christiania; and Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., tells us that he 

 found the remains of a caterpillar inside one that he killed in Algeria. Von Homeyer states that 

 " It feeds chiefly on the Staphylince., which are found abundantly in cow-dung, and which it picks 

 out with great dexterity. If disturbed when doing this, it is curious to observe how it repeatedly 

 returns to see if the intruder, who may also be looking after beetles, is still there ; and when he 

 leaves, the bird immediately returns. Does this arise from greediness or curiosity % I think the 

 latter ; for often enough the bird visited the dung-heaps which had been turned over and flew off 

 without looking for insects." The late Captain Beavan also remarks : — " The Hoopoe has 

 evidently the power of smelling grubs and worms that lie an inch or two below the surface of 

 the ground. It is an interesting sight to watch one feeding. His bill appears to quarter every 

 inch of the soil ; and when a grub is discovered, down it goes deep into the ground, seizes the 

 grub, which is then thrown (Hornbill-like) into the air, and swallowed." Mr. Swinhoe writes: — 

 " Feeds on worms, for which it stamps the ground with its feet, clutching them by the head with 

 its bill. It bruises the worm by beating it against the ground, and then, throwing up its head, 

 jerks it down to its small mouth, and finally swallows it." 



It is a pity that so graceful and neatly plumaged a bird as the Hoopoe should be so filthy in 

 its habits ; and many causes have been assigned as to the reason why the nest is always in such 

 a disgusting condition. From the excellent observations of Dr. Scott, which are given below, 

 and from other remarks which will be found detailed in the present article, it will be noticed 

 how closely the present bird assimilates to the Hornbills in habits ; and the fact mentioned by 

 Dr. Scott, of the female not leaving the nest whilst she is sitting, would sufficiently account for 



