124 
BRITISH BIRDS. 
each marked with white, which, when clofed, af- 
fumes the form of a crefcent, the horns pointing 
downwards ; the legs are fhort and black. 
This is the only one of its kind found in thefe 
kingdoms; it is not very common with us, being 
feen only at uncertain periods. Our reprefen- 
tation was taken from a very fine one lhot near 
Bedlington, Northumberland, and fent us by the 
Rev. Mr Cotes. In its ftomach were found the 
claws and other iridigeftible parts of infers of the 
beetle tribe ; it was alive fome time after being 
lhot, and walked about erecting its tail and crell in 
a very pleafmg manner. The female is faid to 
have two or three broods in the year ; flie makes 
no neft, but lays her eggs, generally about four or 
five in number, in the hollow of a tree, and fome- 
times in a hole in the wall, or even on the ground. 
Buffon fays, that he has fometimes found a foft lin- 
ing of mofs, wool, or feathers in the nefts of thefe 
birds, and fuppofes that, in that cafe, they may 
have ufed the deferted neft of fome other bird. Its 
food confifts chiefly of infers, with the remains of 
which its neft is fometimes fo filled as to become 
extremely offenfive. It is a folitary bird, two of 
them being feldom feen together ; in Egypt, where 
they are very common, they are feen only in fmall 
flocks. Its creft ufually falls behind on its neck, 
except when it is furprifed or irritated, and it then 
ftands ere£h 
