By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 51 



volume and richness of its song, more particularly in the early 

 spring, and this is the more remarkable when the diminutive size 

 of the bird is taken into account : Shakspeare was evidently igno- 

 rant of this, for he says 



<f The nightingale, if she should sing by day 

 "When every goose is cackling, would be thought 

 No better a musician than the wren." 



(Merchant of Venice, Act v.) 



One naturally is inclined to wonder how so small and apparently 

 j delicate birds as this and the preceding, brave the severity of our 

 winters in this country, and yet notwithstanding the insect nature 

 of their food and the slender form of their beaks, they somehow 

 | manage to subsist, and the Wren at least to warble in apparent 

 gladness of heart during the roughest winds and the bleakest 

 j weather. This is also essentially a restless bird, always on the 

 move and never stationary for a minute : it derives its scientific 

 name Troglodytes from the cave-like appearance of the large domed 

 nest which it inhabits. 



"Hoopoe" (TJpupa Epops) . Once seen this bird can never be 

 I mistaken by the most unobservant, its long and beautiful crest 

 , being peculiar and distinctive : this is composed of soft silky 

 feathers of a pale buff colour, each ending in a black and white 

 spot or eye ; and this crest it can erect and depress at pleasure : 

 when the bird is in a quiescent state and undisturbed, the crest 

 flows gracefully back in a recumbent position, but upon the least 

 alarm or when excited in any way, the feathers are immediately 

 ! erected : the general colour of the plumage is pale buff, amply re- 

 lieved by the black and white bars of the wings and tail : the beak 

 is very slender and slightly bent. The Hoopoe is said to prefer 

 moist and low situations, especially where woods abound : it may 

 generally be seen on the ground, searching for worms and grubs, 

 though it so far shows its climbing habits as to fly to trees when 

 disturbed, and to be often observed hanging from the branches of 

 trees, in search of the insects which dwell on the under side of the 

 foliage. The only occasion on which I have ever had the good 

 fortune to see it alive in a wild state was from a railwa} 7 " carriage 

 in Hanover : the bird was marching about with great dignity on 



e 2 



