THE HOOPOE — THE GRAND PROMEROPS. 203 



And, proud of his plumage and proud of his air, 

 He mingled with birds at once splendid and rare. 



the ancient continent, from Lapland and Sweden, to the 

 Orcades, the Canaries, and at the Cape of Good Hope. In 

 Europe they are birds of passage, and are seen among those vast 

 crowds of birds which twice a-year pass the island of Malta. 

 Their food is insects; their flesh smells strongly of musk ; they 

 build in holes of rotten trees, or in old walls, occasionally in this 

 country ; eggs from two to seven. 



The Paradisea, or Crested Hoopoe, is about the size of a 

 thrush, and weighs from two to four ounces ; length nineteen 

 inches ; two of the tail feathers very long ; inhabits India. So 

 large a crest, added to a creature of so diminutive a size, renders 

 this bird one of the most fantastical of the feathered tribe. 

 The crest consists of two rows of feathers equidistant; the 

 whole of these feathers are red, and terminate with a black spot ; 

 the upper part of the body is grey, with a tinge of brown, 

 varied with transverse waves of dirty white; the wings and 

 tail are black, undulated with bars of white. Some varieties of 

 this bird in Europe; a distinct species in Madagascar and the 

 Cape. When tamed, shews great attachment to its master ; 

 when fully domesticated, eats either bread or raw fiesh. A va- 

 riety in Egypt excellent food. 



The Superba, or Grand-Promerops, is one of the most rich, 

 splendid, and singular in plumage of the whole tribe of birds. 

 It is the size of a pigeon in body, but measures nearly four feet 

 in length. Hind part of the head and upper part of the belly 

 glossy green ; the rest of the upper parts black, changing to 

 violet; inhabits New Guinea. There is a beautiful coloured 

 engraving of this bird in Dr. Latham's work: it is not easily 

 described. 



The Mexieana, or Mexican Promerops, is the size of a 

 song thrush ; inhabits Mexico. The Papuensis, or New Guinea 

 Brown Promerops, is twenty-two inches long ; inhabits New 

 Guinea, 



