310 Mr.Vicors’s and Dr. HongsrrErp's Description of the 
the Trochilide. The former members are short and rounded, 
the four first quill-feathers gradually exceeding each other in 
length, and those which succeed by degrees decreasing. "The 
tail also in the typical species of the family is long and gra- 
duated. On the other hand, the tarsi and feet are endowed 
with much strength, and the powers of the hind-toe in parti- 
cular are conspicuously developed. We have already observed 
the great deficiency of true climbing birds which prevails in 
New Holland; and this peculiarity of the strong scansorial hal- 
lux may enable the Meliphagide in some measure to supply 
that deficiency. The prevalence also of this character, which 
they hold in common with the neighbouring family of Certhiade, 
with which they are also united by the character of the extensile 
tongue, points out the continuance of the chain of aflinities 
which connects the neighbouring Tribes of Scansores and Te- 
nuirostres together; and adds another to the numberless in- 
stances of the harmonious disposition of nature. 
Besides the characters which thus indicate that the Melipha- 
gide are placed at the extremity of the 'Tribe of Tenuirostres, 
there are one or two particulars which separate them from the 
more typical Honey-feeding groups. Their tongue is divided 
at the apex into several filaments ; while that of the Trochilide is 
bifid only at the end. We have not at present sufficient data to 
determine the general character of the tongues of the other 
Tenuirostral families, and shall therefore make no comparison 
with them on a point on which we could speak only partially. 
One more character must be observed as peculiar to our New 
Holland group. The nares, which in all the other families of 
the tribe are situated at the base, and are more or less rounded, 
are here longitudinal and linear, forming a lengthened slit 
extending in some instances nearly to half the length of the bill, 
and partially closed above by a longitudinal membrane. This 
character prevails so far in the family as to be almost the only 
external . 
