46 EGYPTIAN BIRDS 
friends for the good we presume they possess, and 
there is much that is good in this perky little bird. 
Time was, it is said, when the Hoopoe had no 
crest, and he only got one granted by royal favour. 
The king of those days was importing a new bride 
from Asia, and decided to have her met at the port 
on the Red Sea where she landed, with unusual 
pomp. His army was to go down and escort her 
to the royal city, and all the birds of the air were 
instructed also to wait her arrival and form a flying 
sunshade with their wings, and fan the air with 
their pinions, whilst all should fill the heavens 
with their sweet songs—and thus she should come. 
The birds agreed, all but the Hoopoe. He objected, 
he knew something about the lady, and he wouldn't 
consent to go. Saying he would rather not, he flew 
away to a cave in some far-away mountain in the 
desert. When the king heard of this he was very 
wroth. Anyhow, he had the culprit sent for, and 
now the poor Hoopoe is brought before his enraged 
majesty, but so bravely did he comport himself, and 
so well did he defend his position, showing that if 
he did that for which he had conscientious objec- 
tions, he would suffer grave moral and intellectual 
damage, and therefore it was with all respect he 
begged to be excused. His Majesty was so amazed 
