140 BOMBAY DUCKS 
but necessary to betake oneself to any open space, 
preferably a lawn refreshed by recent rain, in order to 
see some of these charming birds. In case there is any 
one who is not acquainted with the hoopoe, it will, per- 
haps, be well for me to say that the head and neck of 
the bird are fawn-coloured and ornamented by a crown 
of buff, edged with black—a crown which, according to 
the Mohammedans, was given to the bird by King Solo- 
mon, in recognition of meritorious services! The wings 
and tail are composed of broad and alternating bars of 
black and white; these form a bold and pleasing con- 
trast to the fawn of the head and neck: indeed, it is 
difficult to imagine a happier combination of colour and 
pattern than that presented by the plumage of the 
hoopoe. 
One would naturally imagine a bird so clothed to be 
exceedingly conspicuous; but the hoopoe is not so 
noticeable as one would expect, for its colours har- 
monize with its environment. Yet it is a conspicuous 
bird, and, since it feeds in open places, is obliged to 
protect itself by means of a ruse when danger is at hand 
and there is no time to fly away. 
“On the approach of a hawk or other enemy,” writes 
Mr. W. P. Pycroft, “it throws itself flat upon the ground, 
drops its crest and spreads out its wings and—heigho! 
as if in obedience to the magician’s wand, our bird has 
vanished ; what appears to be a bundle of rags remains 
in its place.” I myself have never seen the hoopoe act 
thus, but can well believe it does. 
I know a parson who once did a similar thing. He 
was gardening, and was wearing the oldest of his old 
