148 WILD LIFE IN CHINA. 



The waxvvings get their name from their peculiar red, waxlike 

 appendageson the secondary wing feathers. They are pleasant 

 looking birds, dressed by no means showily in light grey brown 

 above, black primary wing feathers, a tail tipped with a bar 

 of gold, a black throat, and wine-red tints for the under parts. 

 By the Chinese they are known as the "great peace birds," 

 Tai-ping-tsiao. This in all probability^ in allusion to their 

 general quietness, for notwithstanding|the classical garnilus 

 in the name, their only note is a soft, gentle, plaintive sort of 

 whistle. Some spend the winter in this latitude, or even 

 farther north. Other winter visitors will have arrived in 

 great numbers before the end of November. Already I 

 have seen two or three varieties of the thrush family. Some 

 merely give us a call in passing, such, for example as the 

 rock thrush, which makes it way to the hilly districts in the 

 next province. One or more of the redwings stay the winter. 

 These may be found with a considerable number of friends 

 amongst cotton stalks so long as any remain. 



But perhaps the most striking of our autumn callers is 

 the hoopoe, Upupa bpops. There is an old eastern story of 

 the hoopoe. King Solomon was once nearly overcome with 

 the heat of the sun when on a journey. The king of the 

 hoopoes called together his subjects and these, flying over 

 the suffering sovereign, formed a cloud to shelter him. 

 Grateful for such service, King Solomon asked what return 

 he could make. "Grant that each of us may wear a golden 

 crown," was the reply. The wise monarch shook his head, 

 but granted the request. Then arose such a persecution of 

 hoopoes as never was. They were soon in danger of 

 extermination, and all because of the golden crowns. "Pray, 

 O King, give us a crown of feathers instead," pleaded the 

 humbled hoopoe monarch. And so it came to pass that the 

 hoopoe of the present day has that charming erectile buff 

 crest tipped with black! That, however, is by no means his 

 only attraction. Though buff is the governing tint of his 

 upper parts, his lower back and wings are beautifully barred 

 in black and white, as is his tail. In flight, this marking has 

 a far more striking appearance than when the bird is at rest. 

 His long slender bill, gracefully curved, and very sharp, is 

 another noticeable feature in his outfit. To the Chinese he 

 is sometimes known as the "coffin-bird," from his liking for 

 the holes and hollow receptacles they provide for his nest. 

 In his breeding quarters the hoopoe is quite familiar, and 

 will nest anywhere in the neighbourhood of houses, even on 

 verandahs if he can find a suitable spot. In the winter, and 

 when migrating, he is a little more suspicious. But he well 

 repays watching, as do many others of which lack of space 

 forbids even mention. 



