THE HOOPOE. 
143 
of where to look for it. I was once told that this bird was too 
much like a mouse to lay eggs! I know not liow it comes to 
])ass that the Wren is universally known to the islanders l)y 
the name of llobin Eedbreast ; such, however, is the fact. 
THE HOOPOE. 
U'pu'pa E'pojts. 
On referring again to Thomas Edmondston’s private list, I 
find he has corrected his statement that a small fiock appeared 
in Unst in the beginning of January, he having copied from a 
list given him by a local observer, and mistaken the word 
“ Hooper ” for Hoopoe.” 
The Hoopoe has occurred in Shetland in early autumn, but 
only as a rare straggler, and, so far as I have observed, it comes 
with a northerly or north-westerly wind. The first undoubted 
instance was on the 21st of August 1860, when I shot one at 
Balta Sound. Whatever may be its habits elsewhere, they 
certainly have in Shetland differed greatly from all written 
accounts which I have met with. When alarmed it flies rather 
high, but seldom to a greater distance than three or four 
hundred yards, almost invariably alighting near a loose stone 
wall, among the crevices of which it will presently hide ; some- 
times indeed passing quite through, and suddenly appearing 
a long way ofi' upon the other side. It seems to prefer wet 
swampy places, yet I have known it frequent the driest and 
most barren fields for days at a time. It runs with considerable 
swiftness, and even when undisturbed is exceedingly restless, 
seldom remaining in one spot for many seconds. Upon the 
wing it presents a very singular appearance, the flight being 
rapid, wavering, and more like that of a butterfly than of a 
bird. It is not easily distinguished upon the ground, but 
the white spotted wings and tail render it a very conspicuous 
object when flying. The second specimen of the Hoopoe seen 
by me was met with on the 15th of August 1861, in the large 
