

UPUPIN.E. 



small, with the opening covered by a membranous scale. Wings long and rounded, with the fourth and 

 fifth quills equal and longest. Tail long, broad, and even. Tarsi shorter than the middle toe, strong, 

 and covered with broad scales. Toes moderate ; the outer toe longer than the inner and united at the 

 base to the first joint, the hind toe long ; the claws moderate, compressed, curved, and that of the hind 

 toe long and nearly straight. 



The species that compose this genus are found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. They are migratory, and prefer low 

 and moist situations that border woods and forests ; it is in such places that they search for insects and worms. 

 They also seek for their food on the trunks of trees, and especially among the foliage for caterpillars, and they 

 may sometimes be observed hanging from a branch while reaching one of them from a leaf. Even manure is examined 

 by these birds for the insects that it contains. The nest is generally placed in holes of decayed trees and occasionally 

 in crevices of walls and rocks. The materials employed consists of dry grass, and the nest is usually lined with 

 feathers or other soft articles internally. The female deposits four or five eggs. 



1. U. Lpops Linn. PI. enl. 52., Edwards's Birds, pi. 345., Gould, 

 B. of Eur. pi. 238., Levaill. Prom. t. 22. — Upupa vulgaris Pall. ; 

 U. senegalensis Swains. ? 



2. U. minor Gmel. Vieill. Ois. dor. t. 2. — Upupa cristatella 

 Vieill. Gal. des Ois. t. 184. ; U. africana Bechst. ; U. capensis Swains. 



3. U. monolophos Wagl. Syst. Av., Levaill. Prom. t. 9- 



4. U. varia Bodd. PI. enl. 697- — Upupa capensis Gmel. ; V. 

 madagasoariensis Shaw; Coracia cristata Vieill. Levaill. Prom. t. 18. 

 Vieill. Ois. dor. t. 3. ; Type of Fregilupus Less. (1831). 



Irrisor Less.* 



Bill long, more or less curved throughout its length, the culmen keeled, and the sides suddenly 

 compressed from the base towards the tip, which is entire and acute ; the gonys lengthened and curved ; 

 the nostrils basal and small, with the opening oval and covered by a membranous scale. Wings long and 

 rounded, with the fourth and fifth quills equal and longest. Tail more or less lengthened, broad, and 

 graduated. Tarsi much shorter than the middle toe, strong, and covered with broad scales. Toes long 

 and strong ; the outer toe longer than the inner, and united at the base beyond the first joint ; the hind 

 toe very long ; the claws long, strong, compressed, and much curved. 



The species of this genus are found throughout the entire continent of Africa. They frequent the tall trees, 

 creeping among the branches while in search of their food, which consists almost entirely of insects and their larva? ; 

 they also feed on the fruits of the fig trees when ripe ; and should they, while thus engaged, be disturbed, they 

 commence uttering a loud chattering noise. It is further stated that they congregate in small flocks, and roost in the 

 holes of trees. 



1. I. erythrorhynehos (Lath.) Lath. Gen. Syn. Supp. pi. 110., 

 Nat. Misc. pi. 533., Vieill. Ois. dor. t. 6., Levaill. Prom. t. 1,2, 3. 

 — Upupa viridis Licht. ; Irrisor capensis Less. 



2. I. melanorhynclios (Licht.) Levaill. Prom. t. 4 Falcinellus 



senegalensis Vieill. 



3. I. caudacutus (Vieill.) Levaill. Prom. t. 8, 9. et 17. — Epima- 

 chus obscurus Wagl. 



4. I. indicus (Lath.) Vieill. Ois. dor. t. 9., Levaill. Prom. t. 7. — 

 Promerops caeruleus Shaw, Nat. Misc. pi. 985. 



5. I. unicolor (Licht.) Isis, 1829. p. 656. 



6. I. lamprolophos (Wagl.) Levaill. Prom. t. 11, 12. 



7. I. sibilator (Vieill.) Levaill. Prom. t. 10. — Epimachus sibi- 

 latrix Wagl. 



S. I. aterrimus (Steph.) — Promerops pusillus Swains. B. of 

 W. Afr. p. 120. 



9. I. cyanomelas (Vieill.) Levaill. Prom. t. 5, 6. — Upupa pur- 

 purascens Burch. ; Rhinopomastes Smithii Jard. Zool. Journ. iv. 

 pi. l.j R. Levaillantii Less.; Type of Rhinopomastes Smith, 

 (1828.). 



10. I. minor Riipp. Syst. Uebers. Vog. t. 8. 



M. Lesson established this division in 1831 (Traite d'Ornithologie, p. 239-). It embraces Rhinopomastes of Dr. Smith (1828). 

 7 1 



