The natural history of British birds: or, a selection of the most rare, beautiful, and interesting birds which inhabit this country: the descriptions from the Systema naturæ of Linnæus; with general observations, either original, or collected ... By E. Donovan, F.L.S. In five volumes. ... [pt.1]

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PLATE IX. UPUPA EPOPS. COMMON HOOPOE. PICAE.

Bill compressed, convex.

GENERIC CHARACTER. Bill long, slender and bending. Nostrils small, placed near the base. Tongue short, sagittal. Toes three before, and one behind; the middle one connected at the base to the outmost.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER, AND SYNONYMS. Bill black, slender. Tongue triangular; placed low in the mouth. Crest composed of a double row of feathers; of a pale reddish brown. Breast and belly white. Back scapulars and wings, barred with black and white. Tail of ten feathers; black marked with white, in the form of a crescent, with the horns pointing towards the end of the feathers. Legs short and black.

• UPUPA EPOPS. Lin. Syst. Nat. 1. p. 183 N^o 1.
  • Scop. Ann. 1. p. 53. N^o 62.
  • Muller. p. 13. 103.
  • Brun. N^o 43.
  • Georgi. Reise. p. 165.
  • Sepp. Vog. pl. in. p. 129.
  • Faun Arag. p. 74.
  • Kolb. Cap. ii. p. 157.
• UPUPA. Raii. Syn. p. 48. A. 6.
  • Gesner. av. 776.
  • Kramer. elen. p. 337.
• ...

• UPUPA; arquata stercoraria; gallus lutosus. Klein Stem av. 24. tab. 25.
• HOOP or COMMON HOOPOE. Will. orn. p. 145.
  • Albin. 2. pl. 42. 43.
  • Edw. 7. pl. 345.
  • Br. Zool. N^o 90.
  • Arct. Zool. ii. p. 283. A.
  • Lath. Gen. Syn. ii. p. 687.—Supp. 122.
  • ...Br. Mus.—Lev. Mus.
• DUNG BIRD. Charlton ex. 98. tab. 99.
• La Hupe, ou Puput. Bris. orn. ii. p. 455. N^o 1. pl. 43. f. 1.
  • Buff. ois VI. p. 439.—Pl. enl. 52.
• La Huppe. Belon. Av. 293.
• Bubbola. Olin. uccel. p. 36.
• Wied-hopf. Frisch. t. 43.
• Harfogel, Pop. Faun. Suec. sp. 105.
• Her-fugl. Brunnich. 43.
• Smerda kaura. Scopoli. N^o 62.
• Ter-chaous, or Messenger Bird. Pococke's Trav. 1. p. 209.

Linnaeus in the Fauna Succica * 1.1 observes that this elegant bird receives its name from the sound of its note; but by other naturalists it has been suspected that its name was originally derived from the French huppè or crested; as the crest is of a very curious structure, and alone is sufficient to distinguish it from every other European bird. It is the only species of the Hoopoe genus that is peculiar to the conti∣nent of Europe.

It inhabits Asia and Africa, and is said to be met with in the large forests of Sweden * 1.2, and in Austria † 1.3; and has been found as far north as the Orknies and Lapland, as well as in many of the intermediate places between them; at the Cape of Good Hope on one hand, and quite to Ceylon ‡ 1.4 and Java on the other. In Europe it is considered as a bird of passage, and is said not to winter even in Greece § 1.5. In England ‖ 1.6 it is far from common, being seldom seen, and at uncertain times: it has been observed in Kent, Surrey, Northumberland, and Moyston in Flintshire, as well as in several other counties. A gentleman of vera∣city in Essex informs us that one was discovered last year in a hole in his garden wall, but being frightened away did not return again to that place. Among other proofs of its migrating into, and even breeding in England, Mr. Latham has mentioned several. "The year 1783 seems to have been more abundant in these birds than any I have yet heard of; one being shot near Oxford, on the coast of Suffolk, in May, and another seen near the same place the 24th of June following: these no doubt had bred thereabouts. The place where these were seen was a remarkable barren spot. In the month of September of the same year two were shot at Holderness, and many were seen in various parts of Yorkshire, and as far north as ¶ 1.7 Scotland. One was shot the 10th of September at Cam in Gloucestershire, another on Epping Forest, and a third in Surrey. A few years since a pair had begun to make a nest in Hampshire; but being too much disturbed, forsook it, and went elsewhere ** 1.8. The last year (1786) a young bird was sent to me, the 10th of May, full-sledged, shot near South-fleet,

in Kent * 1.9; but the old birds had not been observed."—It was well known, as a visitor in England, at the time Albin published his History of Birds; his observations deserve notice. "The hen of this bird was shot in the garden of Mr. Starkey Mayos, at Woodford on Epping Forest, where they had observed it some time, and used all the means to take it they could; but it was so shy, that it avoided all their traps which were laid for it; which the gentleman observing, ordered it to be shot: it was sent to me to be preserved for him.

The cock of this kind I drew from a picture done in Germany, by a great master there, now in the possession of Mr. Nisbet, a gentle∣man, who had it drawn from the bird when alive.

There is some difference in the colours of the hen, and this bird which was a cock, I was credibly informed by Robert Bristow, Esq who saw both the drawings of the cock and hen, and told me his son shot the cock, which was like the drawing at his seat at Micheler, near Winchester in Hampshire.

Albin, Vol. II. 42, 43.

Latham observes, "it is a solitary bird, and seldom more than two are seen together; though it is said that in Egypt it assembles in small troops. It is very common in Cairo, where it builds in the streets, on the terraces of houses, &c. It is also common in the deserts of Russia and Tartary, though scarce beyond the river Ob; however some are found beyond the Lake Baikal. Dr. Pallas confirms the account of the filthy manners of this bird, as he met with an instance of a pair breeding in the privy of an uninhabited house in the suburbs of Tzaritzn † 1.10.

"I am informed by colonel Davies, that they every year are seen in Gibraltar in March, in small flocks of ten or twelve; hence are

called there March Cocks. They are supposed to come from Africa, and to be on their passage north to some other place, as they only stay a few hours to rest themselves: and it is not uncommon to see five or six flocks in a week, during the time of their passage. He did not ob∣serve them to have any note; but that they had a dipping kind of flight not unlike a Woodpecker. I have observed this Bird to be among paintings both from China and India; it is therefore no doubt com∣mon to both those parts." Lath. Gen. Syn.

In Sweden the appearance of this Bird is regarded as a presage of war; and in England its visits were formerly considered as ominous by the vulgar.

In Turkey it is called Tir Chaous, or the Messenger Bird from the resemblance its crest has to the plumes worn by the Chaous, or Turkish couriers.

Latham says, the female is like the male, and lays from two to seven eggs; but for the most part four or five. These are somewhat less than those of a Partridge, but longer and ash-coloured. This Bird is said to have two or three broods in a year, and to lay the eggs in the holes of trees, like the Woodpecker, but in general to make no nest: notwithstanding which, Buffon observed, that two out of six nests, which were brought to him for inspection, had a soft lining of moss, wool, leaves, feathers, and the like; and he is of opinion, that when this is the case, the bird has made use of the old nest of some other bird. It will also lay, and hatch the young in holes of walls, and even on the ground. The food of this bird is insects; and it is the exuviae of the large beetles, and such like, with which the nest is crouded, that cause the nest to stink so horribly; insomuch that former writers asserted the nest to be made of excrement.

In Sepp's plate the nest is placed in the hollow of a tree; it is composed of soft bents, and smooth within. The eggs, four in number, of a blueish white, marked with pale brown spots.

Buffon mentions one of this species which lived with a lady for three months, subsisting only on bread and cheese; and, contrary to the common opinion, drank frequently, and that by gulps. Another was kept for eighteen months on raw meat, and would not eat any thing else.

Olina says, that this bird lives three years.

In some countries it is esteemed as good eating. It seldom perches on trees, unless they are very low. It does not erect its crest, except when agitated by surprize: in a natural state the crest falling behind the neck * 1.11; but whenever it alights on the ground, it is said to spread its crest beautifully.

Some authors mention a variety of this species. Kolben † 1.12 mentions one at the Cape of Good Hope, which is smaller; the bill shorter in proportion; and the legs longer: the crest is not so long, and has no trace of white in it throughout: and in general the plumage is less variegated. Another specimen from the same place, had the upper part of the beak of a deep brown, and the belly varied with brown and white; but as this was less in every respect, it was probably a young bird.

Gerini mentions one which he saw at Florence, and again on the Alps, which had the crest bordered with sky-blue. Orn. Ital. Hist. des ••is. VI. p. 462.

Notes

• * 1.1

  2d edit. 37.
• * 1.2

  Fauna Suecica, p. 37.
• † 1.3

  Scopoli.
• ‡ 1.4

  Edwards.
• § 1.5

  The Hoopoe and Roller are said to come into Constantinople in August, from the north, to return in spring. Faun. Arab. p. 7. —"The Hoopoe and Bee-eater come in the spring, and remain all the summer and autumn." Russel. Alep. p. 70.
• ‖ 1.6

  Latham, Gen. Syn. 688. 1.
• ¶ 1.7

  Mr. Turnstall.
• ** 1.8

  Di••••s.
• * 1.9

  By Mr. G••dden of that place.
• † 1.10

  Arct. Zool.
• * 1.11

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• † 1.12

  K••l••en. Hist. du Cap. I. p. 152.