HOOPOE. 



25 



INSESSORES. CERTHIADJE. 



SCAN SORES. 



PLATE CXL. 



HOOPOE. 

 Upupa epops. {Linn.) 



The Hoopoe is an occasional visitor with us, and is 

 one of those birds whose habits are solitary, and consequently 

 it is not often seen, although it is generally known all over 

 Europe, even as far north as Lapland, but there only as a 

 summer visitant, and is also found in some parts of Asia and 

 Africa. About the beginning of April the Hoopoes arrive, and 

 spread over the greater part of Europe, where they remain to 

 breed, and return again towards the south, by very slow marches, 

 about the middle of July. When the Hoopoes migrate, it is 

 either singly or in pairs, unless the young brood follows close in 

 the rear of their parents; and their journeys are performed in 

 the night. It is said that a large number of these birds are 

 seen together in autumn in the south of Italy, where they ap- 

 parently congregate for the purpose of crossing over to Africa, 

 in flocks, for the winter. The locality chosen by the Hoopoe 

 is a woody cultivated country, intersected by meadows and 

 pastures, as these birds appear to covet the company of cattle. 

 Whether the country is hilly or flat, seems to be little regarded 

 by them ; but they prefer moist land, and the vicinity of 

 water, to dry barren soil. It appears to be immaterial to the 

 Hoopoe what timber trees exist where he takes up his 

 abode, provided there is a good intermixture of underwood 



