THE SAVAGE WORLD. 309 
mice, though some declare that it kills and eats rattlesnakes, which is most 
improbable. 
The Hoopoe ( Upupa epops ) is also a bird that naturalists have long suf¬ 
fered to wander in lonely isolation for want of a family relationship. Some 
have included it among the hornbills, because of the horny substance which 
compose the bills, others placed it next to the cuckoo, and Woods classed it with 
the birds of Paradise, which seems to fall a little short of ridiculous. The hoopoe 
is distinguished for having a tuft of erectile feathers, in which respect it re¬ 
sembles the cockatoos, but it has also a long, slim and slightly curved bill, 
which characteristic belongs to the snipe family. It has no metallic colors, but 
is beautifully pied with white and a rusty buff, and a slight pinkish tinge on 
the breast. Some six species are known, all confined to the old world, with 
considerable range, the upupa being found as far north as the semi-Arctic regions, 
and the wood hoopoe (irrisor ) as far south as lower Africa. Many superstitions 
were formerly connected with this bird, on account of its singular voice, but 
they are not now generally current. Mr. Robert Swinhoe, who has critically 
observed the habits of the hoopoe , says its strange notes are produced by the 
ANT-EATING CUCKOO. HOOPOE BIRD. 
bird puffing out the sides of the neck, and hammering on the ground as 
it violently exhausts the accumulated air, emitting a sound something like 
u hoo-hoo-hoo.” The bird has the power of giving off a dreadfully offensive 
odor, but why this provision has been vouchsafed to it and denied to all other 
birds, is not known. 
GOAT-SUCKERS AND SWALLOWS (Passeres). 
A very large order, numbering some hundred or more species, includes 
those birds of passage which are distinguished for taking their food while on 
the wing, of which goat-suckers and swallows constitute the larger number. 
They are also called fissirostres, because of the wonderful structure of their 
mouths, by which they are enabled to capture winged insects with an ease and 
celerity that at once exhibit marvellous adaptation. The name goat-sucker was 
originally applied by ignorant persons, who entertained the very silly belief that 
these birds drained the udders of not only wild goats, but of cows and sheep also. 
