THE HOOPOE. 
628 
When any bird of prey appears its conduct is amusing in 
the extreme : it throws itself, suddenly, flat on the ground, 
with outspread wings and tail, in which position it looks 
so like a bundle of rags that the spoiler passes over none 
the wiser. Watching this bird’s conduct is quite an 
amusement: at one moment it raises its crest, then 
lowers it, now fans with it, now makes a low 
reverence, followed perhaps by a comical nod; some¬ 
times it walks with slow gravity, and the next minute 
trips along. In short, the bird is always, in a 
manner, toying with itself. It walks well and is a 
passable flyer, though any bird of prey can strike it 
when on the wing. 
Before the commencement of the breeding season the 
male Hoopoe has many a “set-to” with others of his 
species, for he is an unsociable bird, and, towards such as 
are his equals in strength, a quarrelsome one too; at the 
same time the most ludicrous scenes take place between 
them. On these occasions one hears all the different 
notes of which the Hoopoe is capable; changing from 
one to the other they have a very pleasing effect: first one 
usually hears the “ houp, houp,” which has been incor¬ 
porated with the bird’s name in almost every language; 
then perhaps it is changed to “ airr,” which is expressive 
of anger or indignation; then to “vek, vek, vek,” 
denoting pleasure or satisfaction. “ Houp, houp,” is, 
however, the standard note. The bird is silent after 
pairing time. 
The Hoopoe breeds over the whole of Germany, 
wherever hollow trees are to be met with in the neighbour¬ 
hood of large pastures. The nest is placed in holes in 
trees, walls, and rocks; sometimes on the bare ground. 
In Egypt this bird builds regularly in the houses in the 
