136 COMMOISr HOOPOE. ^ ' 



other nortliern climates. Its size is that of a 

 common Thrush: the colour of the head, neck, 

 and body is pale ferruginous or cinnamon-brown; 

 darkest on the back and shoulders: the wings and 

 tail are black, the former crossed by five white 

 bars, the latter crossed in the middle by a white 

 crescent, the horns pointing towards the end: the 

 rump and lower part of the abdomen are white, 

 and the sides of the body generally marked by a 

 few longitudinal dusky streaks : on the head is a 

 most elegant crest, composed of numerous length- 

 ened feathers of different proportions, and disposed 

 in a double longitudinal series : this it can either 

 erect and expand, or depress and close at pleasure : 

 the feathers composing it are cinnamon-coloured, 

 with black tips, a white bar separating the tip from 

 the rest of the feather: the crest is usually carried 

 in a flat or recumbent state, and is raised only on 

 surprize, or at particular intervals: the general 

 length of the largest feathers is about two inches: 

 the bill is long, slender, sligbiiy curved, sharp- 

 pointed, and black, with the base of the lower 

 mandible flesh-coloured: the legs short and black- 

 ish. The Hoopoe migrates during the spring 

 season from Africa into various parts of Europe, 

 and again returns in winter. This migration, how^- 

 ever, is not universal, since it is observed that 

 great numbers of these birds are constantly found 

 about many towns and villages in various parts of 

 Egypt, where they may be considered as nearly do- 

 mesticated^ building and breeding even among 

 the houses. The flesh of these domestic Hoopoes 



