THE HOOPOE 141 
clothes (and that is saying a great deal, for his living 
was not a fat one), when he saw a lady parishioner 
driving in at the gate. With admirable presence of 
mind, the parson rammed his hat down over his eyes, 
stretched out his arms, and remained motionless in this 
attitude. The lady drove past him, learned at the door 
that he was not at home, and drove away again, little 
suspecting that the innocent-looking scarecrow was her 
spiritual adviser! There is, however, this difference 
between the parson and the hoopoe. The former con- 
sciously imitated a scarecrow, while the hoopoe’s imita- 
tion of a bundle of rags is unconscious. It sees danger, 
is very frightened, and crouches in its abject terror. 
When it does this it has no idea that it is mimicking 
anything. 
It is, I think, important;to bear this in mind, because 
books dealing with mimicry sometimes give us the idea 
that the mimicry is conscious, whereas it is nothing of 
the kind. While the hoopoe is feeding, its crest is com- 
pletely folded back, and looks like a prolongation of the 
attenuated beak. But, directly a human being ap- 
proaches, the bird stops probing into the ground and 
regards the intruder suspiciously. If the bird be fur- 
ther disturbed his crest is instantly erected, and he flies 
away. 
Seen from a little distance, the hoopoe is so very 
beautiful that one is naturally desirous of approaching 
nearer; but close inspection means a sad disillusion- 
ment. The cinnamon-coloured feathers, which from 
a little distance looked so soft and clean, are seen to 
be coarse, dry, and untidy, and here and there patches 
