ZOOLOGY. 83 



perching ; tail composed of ten flexible feathers. This 

 extensive genus is divided into two sections ; the one 

 containing those species possessing strait bills, and the 

 other, such as have their bills curved. 



In this genus are found the smallest of the feathered 

 tribes ; as well as many whose colours far surpass in bril- 

 liantcy, any attempts either of imitation or description ; 

 their food consists of the nectariferous juices, secreted in 

 tubes of flowers, which they extract like Bees, by introdu- 

 cing their tubular tongue, into the flowers whilst on wing ; 

 they are constantly to be seen during fine weather, flutter- 

 ing about the various flowers common to tropiral climates ; 

 they are found in various parts of Asia, Africa, America, 

 and the adjacent islands. The whole tribe are exceedingly 

 tender, and from the nature of their food, will hardly bear 

 confinement ; attempts have been made to bring them alive 

 to this country, but which we believe have universally 

 failed ; they will for a short time subsist on sweetmeats, but 

 soon perish. From their diminutive size, they can scarcely 

 be obtained by the gun, without being greatly injured in 

 plumage : the net we have figured for the purpose of catch- 

 ing insects, or one made on the same principle, but of some- 

 what stouter materials, may be sucrpssfnlly used for these 

 birds, taking care to have the handles of greater length 

 than is necessary for the capturing of insects ; the Birds 

 thus taken, may be destroyed without injury to their fea- 

 thers, by gently squeesing them across the breast with the 

 thumb and finger. 



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