BAHAMA llU.NEV CUEEPEU. 



This is a small f-uiiily of birds containing less th.in fifty species of about three genera. Thcv occur 

 in tropical ami sub-tropical America, and are especially common in the West Indies. 



GENUS COEREBA. THE HONEY CREEPERS. 



Gun. Ch. Bill, shorter than the head, strongly cu-ved And 

 acutely p'linted. Tarsus longer than middle toe : colors black op 

 brown ab-re, lighter below, usually conspicuously mar'.cod with 

 yellow. There are some fift.een sj>ecies of this generii, ijjostlj 

 West Indian. 



A B 



Fig. 7'J. Tongue of Honey Creeper 

 enlarged, a. tarsus of same, is, sec- 

 iion through tongue. 



COEREBA BAHAMEWSIS. 



Bahama Honey Creeper. 



Plate XIII. Adult, from Nassau. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cii. Size, about that of the Yellow-rumped Creeper. Bill, strongly arched, conical ami acutely 

 pointed. Wings, long, but rounded, the second, third and fourth quills being usually the longest, while the 

 fifth is but little shorter anil tlie first is generally equal 1 1 the fmrth. Tail, well rounded, the outer feathers 

 being about .2.) shorter than the middle. Feet, quite large and stout, middle toe and claw a little shorter 

 than the tarsus, which is slightly feathered on its anterior face. (Fig. 71)) but naked from the heel behind. 

 There are si.x scales in front and but one behind. 



The c iracoid bones are e [ual in lcn.;th to the top of the keel, which is low. about equal in height to one- 

 half the width of the sternum. Marginal indentations, quite deep, a little exceeding the height of the 

 keel. Furcular, measured in a straight line, shorter than the coracoids. Terminal expansion offurcula 

 long and narrow, being more tlian twice as long as wide. It does not apiu-oach the keel cl' sfly, but usually 

 reaches the manubrium, which is well developed, the forks being nearly equal in length to the body of the 

 bone. Costal process with the terminal angle rounded, but with the anterior portion acutely angled. The 

 scapulars are about equal in length to the coraroids, and the terminal portion is curved downwards. 



The tongue (Fig. 711) is quite remarkable: it is A')') long to the fleshy base; is rather flat above, rounded 

 below, bifid for .35 of its terminal length, and provided with long, coarse cilia, at the tips of each division. 

 Larynx, straight. 1.2;") to inferior larynx, the muscles of which are well developed. Heart, small and pointed 

 ,2.5 X .40. Both lobes of the liver are equal in size. The oesophagus is straight, without special dilitation 

 1.50 to proventiculas, which is provided with very short simple glands, arranged in a zonular band, .o5 



wide, (Fig. 80.) stom.ich, remarkably small, flat and elliptical or beau- 

 shaped in form. .o5 by .2-1 by .10 (in. e). The walls , ire exceedingly thin 

 and the lining membrane is smooth. The fold of tlie duodenum is 

 short, .45 long, (ro. o) but the pancreas (iB. i) is .fiO long, thus it ex- 

 tends along the intestines. Intestines, long, 3.80, but the coeca are 

 excedingly minute. 



Color, adult male. Above, sooty black, darkest on head. Large 

 patch on rump bright yellow. AVings and tail of a similar color to the 

 back but of a rusty shade. Base of primaries, extending along both 

 webs and on inner web of secondaries, white, thus forming a patch 

 about .25 lonjj. Tertiaries, quite prominently margined with white. 



Fig. SO. Organs of Honey 

 Creeper. E, stomach ; c, pro- 

 ventriculus ; A, gullet ; D, duo- 

 denum ; 1, pancreas ; o, intes- 

 tine. 



