38 



FRIENDS OF THE AGRICULTURIST 



It is fairly generally distributed throughout the sub- 

 continent, being a " partial migrant " — ^appearing and 

 disappearing from a district at intervals. 



Its cry of 'poo'p poop is a familiar one in the mimosa scrub, 

 which is its favourite haunt. It affects orchards and gardens 

 as well, where it does yeoman service in clearing off beetles, 

 grasshoppers, grubs, &c. 



Fig. 16. — South African Hoopoe near nest hole in ant-heap. 



In the Eastern Cape Colony it breeds during October 

 and November, but later in the Transvaal. We have taken 

 full clutches of eggs in November, December, and even in 

 February. 



It nests in holes in trees, or, more frequently, in 



