252 OUR SUMMER MIGRANTS. 



Mr. Howard Saunders informs me that many- 

 years ago a pair of Hoopoes took possession of 

 a hole in a yew tree in the shrubbery of a 

 garden at Leatherhead, and reared their young 

 in safety. He afterwards saw both old and 

 young birds strutting about on the lawn. I 

 have seldom met with this bird in England, 

 and then only on the coast in September, when 

 the beauty of its plumage had become faded, 

 and the feathers ragged, and it was about to 

 emigrate southwards for the winter. But on 

 the continent, and more particularly in France, 

 I have had many opportunities of observing it, 

 and noting its actions and habits. In its move- 

 ments on the ground it struck me as resembling 

 the Rook more than any other bird I could 

 think of at the time ; the same stately tread 

 and gentle nodding of the head, every now and 

 then stopping to pick up something. It does 

 not carry the crest erect, but inclining back- 

 wards, and is less sprightly in its movements 

 generally than I had previously supposed. On 

 the wing it at first sight reminds one of a Jay, 



