HOOPO E.
VPUPA EPOPS.
Ip wc may credit the writings of ornithologists who lived in diys gone by, and they appear perfect ly
truslworthy, the numbers of the Iloopoe that visit the British Islands at the present time are gradually
hecouiing less year by year; a singular appearance is sure to ntttaet attention, and the unfortunate Hoopoe,
rendered conspicuous by his colouring and crest, suffers in con sequence. Though 1 have never had a
chance of observing these lords engaged in breeding-operations in the Ilriti-h Islnnds, (here are many
instances recorded of their having remained and constructed their nests in various parts of the eountry
where they were free from persecution.
llow abundant Hoopoes were in some parts of Sussex about thirty years ago, just after their first
nrrival in spring, may be judged from the fact that seven were shot in one week by the bead keeper at
Asbhuruharn I'ark. The estate on which these birds wen' killed adjoined the laud my father hired for
sporting-purposes, and his keeper, who was exceedingly energetic when in pursuit of rarities, usually
ohtained one or two every season. Early in May lSJti I observed a Iloopoe Hying round on a wide
stretch of fume-clad down, termed the hortby Held, on which Normauhursl now stands: my gun having,
however, bean laid down while eugaged with the keeper in setting traps for vermin and searching for
nest«, the chance of a Bbot was lost. In the spring of ls'iS, while Snipe-shoo ting on a portion of I'evcnsey
Level known as llarnhorn Ponds, I marked a Hoopoe down into a high and spreading thorn tree on
the marsh-bank, and had just come up within range when the bird dashed out, hut was dtopped Inferc
it had gone a couple of yards, the charge also bringing down a second, which must have been for some
time concealed among the brunches.
Though many were heard of on different parts of the South Downs, it was not till the 24th of April,
1*82, that I again fell in with the species ; a friend, over whose ground I had liberty to collect
specimens, then rode over to Brighton, and reported that in the early morning a Hoopoe had risen
from the roadside ns be passed, and taken up-hill to a plantation near Seddleseoinbe. Starting at
once for the gap in the hills through which the road be indicated was cul, the bird was soon discovered,
sheltering from a gale, among the small patches of stunted thorn-bushes on the steep sloping sides of the
downs; here, after due consideration, I came to the conclusion that it would he utterly impossible to obtain
a shot. Shortly after, however, he took a flight, carried olf, I believe, by the force of the wind, which was
blowing strong from the west with fitful gusts, to the open country on the summit of the hills, where
the ground had bean lately turned over by the plough. Here he alighted, and commenced bopping
about and pecking along the ridges ; as the spot he had selected was bare and open, without a vestige
of cover near at hand, there was obviously no chanco of approaching within range. At a loss ns
to what wns next to be done, I withdrew behind a large circular bed of furze at the distance of
about a hundred yards, and paused to watch bis actions and ascertain, if possible, (he course ho would