i88 GLIMPSES OF INDIAN BIRDS 



expression of excitement, and not made deliberately 

 to attract a hen or alarm an enemy. 



So much for conjecture. Let us now turn to facts. 

 The hoopoe usually lays its eggs in a hole in a tree or 

 a building ; on rare occasions only, in a crevice of a 

 rock or under a large stone. The most approved 

 nesting site is a roomy cavity, as dark and dirty as 

 possible, with a very small opening leading to the 

 world without. 



I have no wish to exaggerate, and I believe that I 

 am imderstating facts when I say that I have seen 

 more than fifty hoopoes' nests. 



These have all been in cavities in trees or buildings 

 opening to the exterior by a very small aperture. 

 I think I may safely assert that forty-nine out of 

 every fifty hoopoes' nests are in such situations. I 

 emphasise this point in order to demonstrate the kind 

 of nonsense that finds its way into English periodicals. 

 In the issue of the Fortnightly Review for February, 

 1912, an article by Mr. Philip Oyler appeared entitled 

 " Colour Meanings of some British Birds and Quad- 

 rupeds." 



Mr. Oyler is a disciple of that eccentric artist, 

 Mr. Abbot Thayer, who imagines that all birds and 

 beasts are invisible in their natural surroundings. 



Mr. Oyler's article in the Fortnightly Review is 

 composed chiefly of erroneous statements, wild guesses, 

 and absurd interpretations of facts. The climax of 

 nonsense is reached by Mr. Oyler when he writes about 

 the hoopoe: — 



" As it nests in hoUow stems, and hollow stems 



