286 HOOPOE. 
gen, and the north of Norway and Russia; while in the south of 
Sweden and in Denmark it breeds sparingly, though in the latter its 
numbers have diminished owing to the eradication of the old hollow 
trees in the forests. Southward it is generally distributed through- 
out Europe, wherever there are swampy woods and timber-fringed 
meadows suited to its habits ; while in the countries bordering the 
Mediterranean and Black Seas it is abundant and almost ubiquitous, 
being especially numerous at the periods of migration. It is found 
in the Azores and Madeira, while common (and partially resident) 
in the Canaries, Northern Africa, Egypt and. Nubia; its most 
southern winter-quarters being, as far as is known, between Abyssinia 
and Senegambia. It is widely distributed through temperate Asia 
up to Mongolia, and has occurred in Japan. 
A hole in the decayed wood of some tree—frequently a willow 
or ash—is usually selected, and the slight materials of which the 
nest is composed are generally surrounded or cemented by ordure 
of some kind, which causes an intolerable stench, subsequently 
increased by the droppings of the female and young. Some- 
times a crevice in a wall or rock is made use of ; in China holes in 
exposed coffins are occupied ; and Pallas found a nest in the chest 
of a rotting corpse loosely covered with stones. The 4-7 eggs are 
pale greenish-blue when first laid, but later they become greenish- 
olive : measurements 1 in. by*7 in. The food consists of worms, in- 
sects and their larvee—especially those found in dung—-and flies, 
which are taken on the wing. The flight is undulating. The 
movements of the Hoopoe are particularly graceful at the time of 
courtship, when the male struts about with crest erect, uttering a 
note resembling a soft 4u-b% (whence the Spanish term “ abubilla ”) 
or hoop-hoop, to which, and not to the crest, it owes its English and 
French names ; when excited, however, the bird emits a harsh croak 
(W. Eagle Clarke). 
The adult has the plumage pale cinnamon on the head, shoulders 
and under parts; the long, erectile crest-feathers richer in tint 
and tipped with black; quills black, broadly barred with white, 
and striped with buff on the inner secondaries ; lower back barred 
with black, white and buff; tail black, with a broad white bar across 
the centre and descending towards the tips on the outer pair of 
feathers ; the long, slightly decurved bill is black, flesh-coloured at 
the base; feet dusky-brown. Length from base of bill 9°75 in. ; 
bill 2°5 in. ; wing 6 in. The female is rather smaller, duller in 
plumage, and has less crest. The young bird has a shorter bill, and 
the colours are not s6 rich. 
