336 BRITISH BIRDS. , 



In Europe the Hoopoe frequents the open fields and small woods, where 

 it is usually seen just on their borders. It is fond of haunting open 

 glades of old timber near to pastures, and also lives on the plains and 

 high up on the bare mountain-sides. In its habits it is shy and wary, but 

 very active, and its movements on the ground may be described rather as 

 a strut than a walk, and it may be seen moving about, bobbing its head 

 backwards and forwards as it goes, stopping every now and then to probe 

 into the soft' earth in search of a worm, or to pick up some tempting 

 morsel laying on the surface. It is most frequently seen on the ground, 

 often on a manure-heap or other mass of refuse ; but it is said to search 

 old timber for insects. ' It does not often venture any distance from 

 cover ; and although it is capable of long and powerful flight, it does not 

 usually fly far at a time, but contents itself with flitting, in an apparently 

 careless manner, from one place to another, or takes refuge amongst the 

 trees when it is disturbed. It is said to be a very timid bird; and 

 Naumann asserts that if a bird of prey, a Crow, or any other large bird 

 should pass overhead, it immediately crouches on the ground and endea- 

 vours to make itself look as little like a bird as possible, as with outspread 

 wings and tail and upturned bill it awaits the cause of its alarm to pass 

 over. Although so timid it is rather pugnacious, and in the pairing-season 

 combats often take place between rival males. 



The food of the Hoopoe consists, so far as is known, exclusively of 

 animal substances. It feeds chiefly on insects and worms, for which it 

 searches amongst manure, in pastures, or even on the roads. It is very 

 fond of the various species of coleopterous insects, and also eats ants, 

 caterpillars, grubs, grasshoppers, &c. In its search for food, especially 

 for worms, it is said to tap the ground with its feet to frighten its prey 

 from their holes ; but this is very doubtful. The bird most probably hunts 

 by smell, and when the presence of a worm or grub is thus detected the 

 long bill is thrust into the ground, and the struggling captive drawn out, 

 tossed into the air, in many cases, and caught as it falls, and then 

 swallowed. The bill is said to be always elevated when the bird swallows 

 its food. 



The note of the Hoopoe is very singular, it might be said almost unique, 

 and can be heard at a great distance. The bird often takes up its station 

 on the branch of a tree or on a fence, and there utters his guttural and 

 hollow-sounding note, which resembles the word hoop uttered several times 

 in succession. Swinhoe, who has written some interesting particulars on 

 the subject (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1871, p. 348), noticed that as it utters this 

 sound the throat is puffed out and the bill is struck against the ground or 

 the perch at each note. Before it repeats this singular call it repeats the 

 puffing of the neck or throat with a low gurgling noise. When it is able 

 to strike its bill the sound resembles the syllables hoop-hoop-hoop ; but when 



