82 THE NATURAL HISTORY 
their banks, they leave great quantities of myq_ 
‘behind, When the fun warms this mud it 
{warms with infects ; the Hoppoes then are found 
on its banks, ‘They feed upon the infe@s, and 
follow the waters as they retire. 
At Grand Cairo (which is the capital of Kee : 
there are many Hoppoes. ‘They build their nefts _ 
on the tops or terraces of the houfes, 
in Egypt they live together in little companies, 
| 
In Europe they are only birds of paflage, and doo : 
In moft other countries they go only in pairs, 
not itay all winter. 
. Like Woodpeckers, they lay their eggs in le 
holes of trees., Their-nefts are extremely dirty, | 
for the little birds being funk down fo low in the _ 
tree, they cannot throw out the dirt. 
A Hoppoe that was given to a lady feemed very | 
fond of hearing mufic, and whenever the played, 
would place itfelf on or near her harpfichord. 
_ The Egyptians fay, that the young. Hoppoes i 
are very fond of their parents; that they ; warm ‘ 
them when they are old under their wings, and. 
when they are moulting, help them to pull of 
their feathers, | | 
. Inthis perhaps the Egyptians may be miftaken; 
but if it be true, they fet us a good example, for 
GENUS 




' we ought to be grateful to our parents who have 
been fo careful of us. | 

