of nmns. 
139 
HOOPOE. 
Nature seems to have sat down with plea- 
sure, and enjoyed her work, when she was 
torming the moving and most beautiful crest 
which adorns the head of the Hoopoe. It. is 
a kind of bright halo, whose radiation places 
the head nearly in the centre of a golden 
circle. This very pleasing ornament, which 
uic bird sets up or lets fall at pleasure, is 
composed of a double row of feathers, winch 
are of a pale orange-colour, tipi with black, 
the plumage is variegated with while and 
wuck cross-lines. This beautiful crested 
S™ ls SOI very common in this country. In 
b-gypt they are often seen in small Hocks, 
beautiful as it is in its plumage, it feeds 
tnietlv on those insects which arc found in 
I 1 " .rid animal bodies, and the most nauseous 
“ na disgusting substances. 
