LITTLE CRAKE 



CHAPTER II 



WILD AND TAME HOOPOES 



" Now Holbein paints men gloriously, but never looks 

 at birds." 



HOOPOES seem to be tamer in a wild state 

 in Eastern countries than in Western. In 

 Africa, India, and China they are in certain 

 parts familiar and fearless birds, but those that migrate 

 for the spring and summer months to Europe prefer 

 more secluded meadow lands and woods ; yet, if this 

 most lovely bird were suffered to remain at peace as an 

 English migrant, there is little doubt that in time we 

 should look for hoopoes in our gardens in the spring, 

 as we do for cuckoos and nightingales, and the rest. 

 Not a year goes by without specimens of these birds 

 being shot, so that it is impossible for them to make a 



start in establishing themselves as regular visitors. In 



24 



