286 THE HOOPOE. 
green of the body and wings. In size the Bee-eater is nearly equal to 
the English starling. 
SLENDER-BILLED BIRDS. 
UPUPID, OR HOUPOES. 
THE large group of birds which are termed TENUIROSTRAL, or Slender- 
billed, always possess a long and slender beak, sometimes curved, as in the 
creepers, hoopoes, and many humming birds ; and sometimes straight, as in 
the nuthatch and other humming birds. The feet are furnished with 
lengthened toes, and the outer toe is generally connected at the base with 
the middle toe. . 
The first family of the Tenuirostres is called after the hoopoe, and termed 
Upupide. In all these birds the bill is curved throughout its entire length, 
long, slender, and sharply pointed. The wings are rounded, showing that 
the birds are not intended for aerial 
feats, and the tail is rather long. The 
legs are short, and the claws strong 
and decidedly curved. 
The common HOOPOE enjoys a very 
wide range of country, being found in 
Northern Africa, where its principal 
home is generally stationed, in several 
/ parts of Asia, and nearly the whole of 
/ Europe. Onaccount of its very strik- 
ing and remarkable form it has at- 
tracted much notice, and has been the 
“sy subject of innumerable legends and 
‘ strange tales, nearly all of which relate 
to its feathery crest. 
The Turks call the Hoopoe 7Z77- 
Chaous, or Courier-Bird, because its 
feathery crown bears some resem- 
blance to the plume of feathers which 
the chaous, or courier, wears as a 
token of his office. The Swedes are 
rather fearful of the Hoopoe, and 
HOOPOE. —(Upupa epops). dread its presence, which is rare in 
their country, as a presage of war, con- 
sidering the plume as analogous to a helmet. Even in our own country the 
uneducated rustics think it an unlucky bird, most probably on account of 
some old legend which, although forgotten has not entirely lost its power 
of exciting prejudice. 
The food of the Hoopoe is almost entirely of an insect nature, although 
the bird will frequently vary its diet with tadpoles and other small creatures. 
Beetles and their larvze, caterpillars and grubs of all kinds, are a favourite 
food with the Hoopoe, which displays much ingenuity in digging them out 
of the decayed wood in which they are often found. The jet-ant (Formica 
fuliginosa), which greatly haunts the centre of decaying trees, is also eaten 
by this bird. 
The nest is made in hollow trees, and consists of dried grass-stems, 
feathers, and other soft substances. The eggs are of a light grey colour, and 
in number vary from four to seven, They are laid in May, and the young 
