112 HOOPOE. 



the smaller sort has the quills and tail spotted, the spots are not 

 round as in the Red-billed, nor precisely in the same situation ; it is 

 true, that both these birds equally vary in the presence or absence of 

 the spots of the tail, and we may conclude from thence that such 

 difference may mark the sexes ; as to circumstance of having a red 

 or black bill, that may arise from variation only. Sonnini mention § 

 a Hoopoe being found in Africa wholly black*. 



12 —BLUE PROMEROPS 



Upupa Indica, Ind. Orn. i. 280. 



Promerops bleu, Ois. dor. (Prom. J p. 20. pi. 9. Tern. Man. Ed. 2. p. Ixxxvi. 



Blue Promerops, Gen. Syn. ii. 124. Shaw's Zool. viii. 142. Nat. Mine. pi. 985. 



LENGTH twelve inches. Bill two inches long, stout, and 

 curved, much as in the Red-billed species, but somewhat more bent, 

 and black ; plumage, in general, blue, paler about the head, and 

 under parts; tail moderately cuneiform, more than four inches in 

 length ; legs pale lead-colour. 



Inhabits India. 



13— TUFTED PROMEROPS— Pl. lxvii* 



LENGTH about fifteen inches. Bill, strong, black, bent the 

 whole of the length, which is between four and five inches, with a 

 very slight notch near the tip. The feathers round the eye like cut 

 velvet, or plush, coming forwards for three quarters of an inch on 



* Sonn. Bit/. 54, p. 187. Note. 



