the order of molkirca in the Linn^ean fyflem. 
Their diftinguifliing characters are, a pliable, 
nakedj gibbous body, terminated by the anus at 
one extremity, and furniflied at the other with 
many tentaciila encompaffing the mouth. Lin- 
nsus enumerates nine fpecies. 
HOODED SERPENT 5 the Serpens Indicus 
Coronatus. This reptile is lb called from an ex- 
crefcence refembling a hood or cap on the top of 
it's head. It is generally about a yard long, and 
three-quarters of an inch thick j and the ikin is 
chiefly of a fine vivid yellow colour. The poifon 
of this Serpent is extremely fubtle^ and is by fome 
reckoned the ftrongeft in nature. 
HOOPER. An appellation given by fome 
authors to the cygnus ferus, or wild fwan. 
HOOPOE; Upupa. This makes a diftinft 
genus of birds of the order of pics in the Linnjean 
fyftem; the charafteriftics of which are thefe: the 
beak is bent, convex, fubcompreffed, and in fome 
degree obtufe; the tongue is obtufe, triangular, 
and very fhort; and the feet are ambulatory. Lin- 
naeus has claffcd three fpecies under this genus; 
the Upupa Epops, the Promerops, and the Bird 
of Paradife. 
Hoopoe, Common; the Upupa Epops. This 
bird occafionally vifits the Britifh iflands: it is alfo 
found in various parts of Europe and Africa, and 
even as remote as Ceylon. The Turks call it Tir 
Chaous, or the meffenger-bird; in Sweden it's ap- 
pearance is vulgarly confidered as a prefage of war; 
and it was formerly deemed in our country a fore- 
runner of fome calamity. 
The ufual weight of the Hoopoe is about tliree 
ounces: the beak is black, flender, and flightly 
hooked ; the head is adorned with a m.oft beautiful 
and elegant creft, rifing two fingers high, and 
compofed of two feries of feathers, which the bird 
rail'es and depreiTes at pleafure: the tips of thefe 
feathers are ornamented with black and white; 
and the reft is of a pale orange-colour. The neck 
is of a pale reddifli brown hue ; the breaft and belly 
are white, variegated with longitudinal ftreaks, 
which difappear in the middle as the bird grows 
older; the tail is black, and compofed of ten fea- 
thers, having a white fpot in it of a crefcent fhape, 
the horns pointing towards it's extremity; the legs 
are fliort and black; and the wings^ which are 
tranfverfely ilreaked with white, when folded, do 
not reach to the end of the tail. 
The Hoopoe feeds on various infefts, berries, 
and vegetables ; breeds in hollow trees ; and lays 
two afh-coloured eggs. According to Linnaeus, 
it receives it's nam.e from it's note, which has a 
fimilar found to the word: but perhaps it may be 
derived from the French Huppe, Crefced ; a pecu- 
liarity fuffxient to diftinguifli this beautiful bird 
from all others. 
HORN-COOT. A name given by fowlers 
to the great Elorn-owl. 
HORN-FISH. An Englifh appellation for 
the fi{h more ufually known by that of the gar. 
It is accounted by fome authors a fpecies of the 
acus, or tobacco-pipe fifh ; but this opinion feems 
to have originated folely from a fimilarity of fliape. 
It is properly a fpecies of pike or efox. 
HORNED FISH. The figure of this fifh 
fomewhat approaches to an oblong fquare, the 
back being the narroweft, and the belly the wideft 
part. The body is entirely covered with a thick, 
ilrong, horny cafe, fixed, and unpliant; the exte- 
rior furface is divided by lines into fexangular por- 
tions, with a kind of afterifm in the centre of each 
and the whole body appears of a dufl-cv colour, ex 
cept the irides, which are orange-coioured. The 
mouth is fmall, and the teeth are long and flen- 
der; from above the eyes projeft two horns; and 
from the plane of the belly fpring two more, tend- 
ing backwards. A fin rifes on the hinder part of 
the back, and another on the belly below the vent; 
and the tail alfo hath a pretty long fin. 
This fingular fifh is a native of the Oriental 
feas; and has fometimes been caught on the coafts 
of Madagafcar. 
HORNET. This infeft is of the wafp kind, • 
but twice as large. It is furnilhed with four wings, 
the firft pair of which is by far die largeft; and 
with thefe the creature flies with great Velocity. 
The head is oblong, and yellowifli ; the eyes are 
prominent and lemilunated ; and between them 
there are two falciform antennae. The feet or 
legs are fix in number ; the flioulders are of a dark 
brown and reddifh chefnut-colour ; the body is 
united to the fhoulders by a fort of thread ; the 
middle of the fore-part is of a dark brown hue, 
marked with a faffron belt; and the hinder part is 
wholly of a fafiron colour, except that it is varie- 
gated with eight brown fpots. Near the belly- 
there are four black fpots on each fide; and the 
tail is armed v/ith a ftrong venomous fting. 
Thefe infe6ts, when flying, are more noify than 
wafps, as v/ell as much more mifchievous and dan- 
gerous. It is faid that a few of them are capable 
of killing either a man or a hcrfe; and indeed a 
fummer rarely pafies without affoiding feme fatal 
inftancesof their fury on fuch asrafiily difturb them 
in their retreats. They make their appearance 
generally about the commencement of the dog- 
days, during which they are peculiarly malignant. 
Like bees, they are faid to have a fupreme head; 
they live in focieties, and appear fubjeft to fome 
regulating power. They are feldonn known to 
exift above two years. During winter they lie 
hid, like ether infe6ls, fom.etimes in the tnmks of 
hollow trees, and fometim.es at their roots: 
there they make their nefts, and conftruft their cells 
with the mouths always downward, which in a 
great meafiire preferves them from the rain. The 
cells are all fexangular, and externally feem com- 
pofed of films like thofe of birch-bark. They 
purfue other winged infefts; and, according to 
fome naturalifts, deftroy fmall birds by ftinging 
them in their heads, after which they find means to 
carry them to their nefts. However, they are lefs 
provident than the more ufeful congenerous infefta 
the bees, in laying up a fufficient ftock ot' provi- 
fions for the winter ; and, in confequence of this 
negled, many of them die through want ; which 
circumftance providentially keeps the breed frora 
becoming very numerous. 
HORNET-FLY. This infed fo gready re- 
femblesthe hornet, that an incurious obferver could 
fcarcely diftingulfti them. It has two large wings; 
the principal colour of the body is yellow, with 
two large tranfverfe black lines ; the corfelet is 
black ; and the head is yellow. 
At a proper feafon, thefe fiies lay a large num- 
ber of oblong white eggs ; which afterwards hatch 
into large and long worms, that feed on the worms 
and nymphs of the humble bee. 
HORSE. In the Linna?an fyftem, the Horfe 
forms a diftinfl genus of animals of the order of 
bellua^ ; the charafters of which are thefe : the 
fore-teeth are fix in each jaw^ the upper being 
eredt 
