HOOPOE. 118 
Famity UPUPIDA. 
HOOPOE. 
Upupa Epors, Linn. 
Pl. XVIL., fig. 5. 
Geogr. distr.—Common in 8. Europe, rarer in the North; occurs 
also in China, and is a winter visitant to India and Africa: in Great 
Britain it is by no means common at the present time, though it 
would appear that formerly it was not an uncommon species. 
Food.—Insects and worms. 
Nest.—F requently none, but sometimes a few bents, feathers, twigs, 
and a little cow-dung. 
Position of nest.—In decayed and hollow trees, the eggs being 
usually deposited upon the rotten wood; rarely upon the ground, 
under a large stone, or in holes on the sunny side of walls or rocks. 
Number of eggs.—5-8; rarely more than 7. 
Time of nidification.—V-VI1. 
The Hoopoe has been described as flying somewhat in 
the manner of the Lapwing. Seebohm says that when 
leaving the nest the flight has a butterfly appearance, and 
anyone who has seen the bird can understand that on the 
wing, especially when near, it would much resemble butter- 
flies of the tropical genus Neptis, though on a much larger 
scale. 
The nest, which is always in a hole, is described as 
being extremely offensive, the bird not only being of an 
uncleanly habit itself, but evidently a lover of abominations. 
Newton says that ‘the furnishing of its nursery is nearly 
always completed by introducing some of the foulest material 
that can be conceived.” 
Several instances have been recorded of the nesting of 
this bird in England, but unfortunately its conspicuous 
appearance, combined with its great timidity, militate 
against the success of most of its attempts to do so. It 
can hardly be considered a rare bird in this country, for 
specimens are shot every year, and it has been observed in 
most of the counties of Great Britain. 
The colouring of the eggs, when fresh, is said to vary 
considerably, some being pale greenish blue, somewhat 
resembling the usual colour of the Starling’s egg (though, 
by the way, the colour of this egg varies from bluish white 
to a colour only a shade lighter than that of the egg of the 
Song Thrush), whilst others are lavender-grey, or even 
stone-colour. 
I 
