File:Stories about birds of land and water (1874) (14564386457).jpg

Identifier: storiesaboutbird00kirb (find matches)
Title: Stories about birds of land and water
Year: 1874 (1870s)
Authors: Kirby, Mary, 1817-1893 Kirby, Elizabeth, 1823-1873
Subjects: Birds -- Juvenile literature
Publisher: Hartford (Conn.) : American Publishing Co.
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
live in England, but pay summer visitsto the warm countries in the south of Europe. They wear a rich costume ofyellow and orange, and have a long beak a little like the kingfishers, and abody about the size of a swallow. And they lead the life of the swallow, darting about in flocks on themountain sides, where bees hum over the flowers of the thyme, and they catchthem by hundreds. They have a curious note, that can be heard a long wayoff, and might be mistaken for a man whistling. The hoopoe, with its beautiful crest, is a distant relation of the bee-eater. He can raise his crest or put it down, just as he pleases ; and he wearsa suit of the gayest colours. He has three toes in front and one behind, and the one behind is longand has a strai^jht claw. THE HOOPOE. 65 His native home is in Africa and in Asia, and he is related not only tothe bee-eater, but to the humming-bird and the sun-bird. Very rarely, indeed,does he pay us a visit in England, but such an event now and then happens.
Text Appearing After Image:
THE HOOPOE. The hoopoe, when he is kindly treated, behaves extremely well incaptivity, and even attaches himself to those about him. 66 STORIES ABOUT BIRDS. We can tell you a little story about it. Two young birds were taken out of a hoopoes nest, and brought up inthe house. They grew very fond of their owner, and used to follow himabout. When they heard him coming they used to utter a joyful kind ofchirp, and even fly up and settle on him. He often brought them a pan of milk, and would let them feast upon thecream, which they seemed to like very much. And then they would perch onhis shoulder, and make a great fuss with him. But if he grew tired, he hadonly to say a word, and they flew away. The room they were kept in had astove in it, and they used to run behind the stove. But what was very funny, they always looked at him, to see what sort ofhumour he was in, before they ventured on their play. They were very fond of beetles, and had a curious way of eating them.They first killed th

Note About Images