318 AVES. 



In some, the two middle feathers are the longest in the 

 male.(l) 



We may also distinguish those which have a straight beak, or 

 one that is nearly so. (2) 



Arachnothera, Temm. 



The long and arcuated beak of the Cinnyris, but stronger, and 

 without emargination; the tongue short and cartilaginous; they are 

 only found in the Archipelago of India, and feed on Spiders.(3) 



TrochiluS; Lin. 



The Hummingbirds, so celebrated for the metallic lustre of 

 their plumage, and chiefly for those plates, brilliant as precious 

 stones, which are formed by scaly feathers of a peculiar structure, 

 on their throat or head, have a long slender beak, enclosing a tongue, 

 which they can protrude at will, like that of the Woodpeckers, 

 (and by the same mechanism,) which is split almost to its base, 

 forming two filaments employed, as is asserted, in taking up the nec- 

 tar from flowers. They also, however, feed on small insects, for we 

 have found their stomach filled with them. Their very small feet, 

 broad tail, excessively long and narrow wings, short humerus and 

 large sternum, which is without emargination, all contribute to form 

 a system adapted for great power of flight, similar to that of the 

 Swallows. The narrowness of their wing is caused by the rapid 

 abbreviation of its quills. By these means, they balance themselves 



gutturalis,578, 9; Nedarinia Solaris, Tern. Col. 341, 3; eximia, Tem. Col. 138, 

 1, 2;pectoraUs, Id. Col. 138, 3;lepida, Lath., Col. 126, 1, and Vieill. Gal. 177, 

 2; Ilasselti, T. Col. 376, 3; coccinogaster, Tem. Col. 388, 3; Cmn. eques, 

 Less, and Garn. Voy. de la Coq. pi. xxxi, f. \\javanica, Zool. 111. 121; some of 

 which birds are probably mere varieties of the others. 



(1) Certhia famosa, L. Enl. 83, 1; C. pukhella, Enl. 670, 1; C. violacea, 670, 

 2; the Sucrier cardinal, Vaill. Ap. 291; the Sucrier Jiguier, Id. 293, f. 2; Neda- 

 rinia mdallica, Licht. Ruppel., pi. vii and Col. 347, 1; Ned. mystacalis, T. Col. 

 126, 3; iV. Kuhlii, T. Col. 376, 1, 2. 



(2) Cinnyris elegans, Vieill. Gal. 177, or Certh. redirostris. Id. Ois. Dor. II, pi. 

 Ixxv. 



(3) Arachnothera longirostra, Tem. Col. 84, I; J. inomata, Id. lb. 2. 



N.B. After all these distinctions, we have still to remove from the great genus 

 Certhia, the C. lunata, Vieill. 61; C. Novse-Hollandise, J. White, New S. W. pi. 

 xvi and ixv; Vieill., 57, and 71; C. aiistralasiana, Yieill. 55; C. carunculata, 

 Vieill. 69, 70; C. auriculata, Vieill. 85; C. cocincinica, Enl. 643, Vieill. 77, 78; 

 C. spiza, Enl. 578, 2, Edw. 25; C. seniculus, Vieill. 50-, C graculina, Vieill. 

 87; C. goruch, Vieill. 88; C. cseruka, Vieill. 83; C. xanthotis, Vieill. 84; C. 

 mellivora, Vieill. 86; which, by their emarginated beak and pencil-like tongue, 

 are all Philedons. 



