Dear all,

Further to my earlier posting on a reference to Irish bird-lore found
during my searches through the University of Arkansas library while
there for the SoE conference earlier this year, I found a rich vein of
ethnoornithological material in the pages of 'Folkore', the journal of
The Folklore Society.

I found a lot of material that will inform my future studies and
thought I would pass on to someone more interested in that part of the
world the following reference from the Vol 85 of Folklore - (1974)
Dupree, Nancy Hatch "An Interpretation of the Role of the Hoopoe in
Afghan Folklore and Magic", Folklore 85: 173-193.

At a glance it appears to be a well researched article that briefly
examines the broader mythological significance of the Hoopoe and then
examines the various sources in Afghani culture, noting the 'extremely
complex ethnographic picture', the diversity of languages spoken in
the country and the different names for the bird, including the most
intriguing, Suleimanai murg - the Bird of [King] Solomon.

A fascinating read, particularly the connection between King Solomon
and the bird and the bird's reputation for wisdom, as a messenger and
as an 'eloquent go-between' in marriage matters.

I'd be interested in more stories of bird-lore from Afghanistan and
the region...and I also note that the Hoopoe has recently, by popular
vote, been declared as Israel's national bird: see
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3549637,00.html and you can
buy the T-shirt!! at:
http://www.judaicawebstore.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=FR-HOOPOE.

Cheers and best,

Robert Gosford
ERSG moderator