THE HOOPOE. 
The length of this bird is twelve inches, and 
the breadth nineteen. The bill is above two 
inches long, black, slender, and somewhat 
curved ; the tongue very short and triangular ; 
the eyes are hazel ; the head is ornamented 
with a crest, consisting of a double row of fea- 
thers, of a pale orange colour, tipped with 
black, the highest about two inches in length ; 
this, which reaches from the bill to the top of 
the neck, the animal can raise or let fall at 
pleasure ; the neck is of a pale reddish brown ; 
the under part of the body is white, and, in the 
young ones, marked with dusky lines, pointing 
downwards ; the back, scapular, and wings, are 
crossed with broad bars of black and white ; 
the lesser coverts of the w r ings, light brown : 
the tail consists of ten feathers, each marked 
with white, which, when closed, assume the 
form of a crescent, the horns pointing down- 
wards : the legs are short and black. 
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