68 PASSERES. 



screened by the foliage from the intense heat of the sun, that the 

 epimachi arc found in company with flocks of parakeets, crowned 

 pigeons, turtle-doves, and birds of Paradise even more splendidly 

 decorated than they themselves. The plumed birds, indeed, re- 

 semble the birds of Paradise in many particulars, more especially 

 in having some of their feathers greatly developed, and also in 

 the splendour of their plumage ; they differ from them, however, 

 in the shape of their bill, which is considerably attenuated. Most 

 of the species are indigenous to New Guinea ; but unfortunately, 

 owing to the barbarism of the natives, their habits and manners 

 are as yet unrecorded by naturalists. One species, found in 

 Australia, is known to ascend the stems of trees in the manner 

 of the creeping birds, and only exercises its powers of wing in fly- 

 ing from tree to tree, or to short distances in the forest. 

 We select as an example of these elegancies of creation — 

 The Twelve-threaded Epimachus {Epimachus alb us). 



FAMILY II. 

 THE SUN-BIRDS. PROMEROPID^. 



General Characteristics. — Bill more or less lengthened, slender, and curved 

 throughout its whole length ; the nostrils bare and covered by a scale ; the wings 

 moderate ; the tail of various lengths, even or graduated ; the toes moderate, and 

 armed with curved and acute claw 



The birds belonging to this family are remarkable for their long 

 slender bills, which are capable of penetrating into the nectary 

 of flowers, from which they principally derive their subsistence. 

 Their tongue is extensible and bifid at the tip, thus enabling them 

 more easily to procure their honied food ; insects, however, and 

 perhaps soft fruits, constitute a considerable portion of their diet. 

 In the breeding season the plumage of the male glows with me- 

 tallic colours, approaching in splendour those of the humming- 

 birds, which indeed the members of this family seem to represent 

 on the continents of the Old World, of which they are exclusively 

 natives. They resemble the humming-birds in their manners, 

 and almost rival them in the brilliancy of their appearance as 

 they hover on quivering wings poised in the air, while they bury 

 their long slender beaks in the corolla from which they sip the 

 sweets. Unlike the creepers {Ccrthidcp), which run mouse-like 

 along the branches, or the honey-suckers [Ncctarinidcc), that rove 

 from twig to twig and flower to flower, resting while they explore 



