43 



birds' salivary glands mixed with algge. The annual value of the 

 nests gathered from the Gomanton caves in Northern Borneo is 

 said to be about $25,000. 



The Hummingbirds (family TrochilidcE) are found only in the 

 New World ; a few of the species reach the temperate latitudes 

 of both North and South America, some ranging as far north as 

 Canada and Alaska (see Case B). Nearly all of the rather more 

 than four hundred species, however, are confined to the tropical 

 and subtropical regions. Some of the species are very plainly 

 colored, as the Giant Hummer {Fatagoiia gigas), of the size of 

 a Swallow and the largest member of the family, but the absence 

 of iridescent tints is the exception, while many display an array 

 of color rivalling the choicest gems. The variety of form in the 

 bill and tail is almost endless, while many of the species are 

 variously ornamented with crests, ruffs, and beards, sparkling 

 with the most luminous tints. Most of the leading styles of these 

 ornithological jewels are represented in Case G. 



Order XXH, Fasscres, comprises all the ordinary Song-birds 

 and so-called Perching-birds, numbering about six thousand 

 species — a number equal to that of all the other orders together. 

 Though so numerous in species, they present no great range of 

 variation in structure, and are thus not divisible into suborders 

 which are by any means very strongly marked. The two to five 

 subdivisions of a subordinal character now most frequently recog- 

 nized are based on certain muscles of the wings and lower larynx, 

 which are in some cases of doubtful importance. The two sub- 

 orders most commonly recognized are the Acromyodian Passeres, 

 or Clamatores, and the Mesomyodian Passeres, or Oscines. A 

 third division, Fseitdoscines, or Menuroidce, has been proposed 

 for the Lyre-birds and an allied family of Australian birds, which 

 combine certain Picarian features with others of the true Oscines 

 or Song-birds. This group is on the whole to be placed first, or 

 next to the Ficarice j and we thus begin the series with the so- 

 called Fseudoscines (pseudo-song-birds). 



The Lyre-birds (family MenuridcR) number only two species, 

 both natives of Australia, and remarkable for their unique lyre- 

 shaped tails. They are musical birds, and are credited with great 



