File:The birds of Europe (1837) (14729014766).jpg

Identifier: birdsEuropeIIIGoul (find matches)
Title: The birds of Europe
Year: 1837 (1830s)
Authors: Gould, John, 1804-1881
Subjects: Pictorial works Birds
Publisher: London, Printed by R. and J.E. Taylor, pub. by the author
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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). It is an excellent climber, ascending the boles of trees with great rapidity, in search of insects, uponwhich it solely subsists. Its stiff and elastic tail, together with its long hind toe and curved claw, presents astructure peculiarly adapted for ascending trees. Its nest is constructed in the hole of a decayed tree, and is formed of grass and mosses, with a lining offeathers : the eggs, which are from seven to nine in number, are white speckled with reddish brown. Head and upper surface yellowish brown intermingled with black, brown, and greyish white; rump palechestnut red ; first four quills dusky; the remainder have a broad reddish white band in the middle, and thetips white ; tail greyish brown ; a whitish streak passes over the eyes ; throat, breast, and under surface white,passing into ochreous yellow on the vent; upper mandible dusky, lower yellowish white ; legs and toes yel-lowish brown. The sexes are alike in plumage. We have figured an adult bird of the natural size.
Text Appearing After Image:
,/ HOOFOE. Upupa epops./(Lmn.J ..■; , . : Genus UPUPA, Linn. Gen. Char. Beak very long, slightly arched, slender, triangular and compressed. Nostrilsbasal, lateral, ovoid, open, surmounted by the feathers of the forehead. Toes three before,and one behind; the external and middle ones united as far as the first joint. Nails short,a little bent, except in the hind one which is straight. Tail square, consisting of ten feathers.Wings moderate; fourth and fifth quill-feathers the longest. HOOPOE. Upupa epops, Linn.La Huppe. There are few birds more elegant in their appearance or more singular in their manners than the Hoopoe;and although it is not a resident in the British Isles, nor strictly a periodical visitor, we are, from its frequentoccurrence, enabled to give much information respecting its natural habits and modes of life. The genus towhich it belongs is extremely limited in the number of its species, three only being at present recognised.Our European example, the Upupa

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