60 THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 



the whole head and muzzle together, and when not extended is kept doubled up in the mouth, with the point 

 directed backward. It is very slothful and solitary. The female bears but a single young one at a birth. They 

 are Very rare, and seldom seen even in their native regions. The Indians eat their flesh. 



CASE 2. 



Fishes. Among these are the Sticklebacks, which the California Indians catch in sum- 

 mer, and dry for winter use.. ..Trout, or River Bass.. ..Sun fishes. 



CASE 3. 



Upper Shelf. The many-colored Wrens of Chili. ..The Diamond Bird, very valuable on 

 account of its skin. ..Robins from Australia. ..Blue Birds from India... Red-crested Manakin 

 of Brazil. In the middle of the shelf is the Superb Warbler of Australia.. .The Gold-crested 

 Wren... The Black Cock and the Crowned Cock of Malacca. 



Middle Shelf. Cocks from Malacca. Notice especially the Wild or Jungle Cock of Asia. 



Lower Shelf. The Silver Pheasant of China. 



This Pheasant is remarkable for the extraordinary leugth of its tail feathers, which no visitor can fail to 

 admire. This noble bird is considered a rarity even in Pekin, its native district being one of the coldest and 

 most mountainous provinces of China. 



English Pheasants. ..Australian Turkeys. ..The Argus Pheasant of Malacca. ..The Lyre-tailed 

 Pheasant of Australia. ..The Helmeted Hornbill...The Rhinoceros Hornbill of Malacca. 



This strange horny excresence is in reality extremely light, being cellular. The Horn bills feed on mice, small 

 birds, reptiles, &c., which, throwing them in the air and catching them in the throat, they swallow whole. 



CASE 4. 



Against the Wall. Fishes from California, Mexico, &c. 



CASE 5. 



EAST SIDE Upper Shelf. Pigeons and Doves. 



WEST SIDE Middle Shelf. Here are some of the choicest specimens in the whole Museum, 

 nnd worthy of special attention. The rare Birds of British Guiana, South America : 

 Among these, No. 6, the Bearded Manakin. ..9, Black Headed Creeper. ..5, Mocking Bird... 

 11, King Humming Bird. On another stand, notice No. 4, the Bell Bird, the rarest in the 

 collection. ..No. 5, the Quya....No. 12, Female Amethyst Humming Bird with nest.... 

 No. 11, the Tucan... The Emerald, Sapphire, Longbill, and other Humming Birds. 



There is no group of birds so interesting to the ornithologist or to the casual observer as the humming birds; 

 at once the smallest in size, the most gorgeously beautiful in color, and almost the most abundant in species of 

 any single family of birds. They are strictly confined to the continent and islands of America, and are most 

 abundant in the Central American States. There are believed to be nearly 400 species. Their food consists 

 almost entirely of insects. The humming, from which they derive their name, is produced by the whirring of 

 the wings. 



Middle Shelf. The celebrated BIRD OP PARADISE from New Guinea. ..The Blue-Headed 

 Shrike or Butcher Bird from the Philippine Islands. ..Blue-Backed Shrike from India... 

 Burmese Shrike from Malacca. ..Cayenne Shrike. ..Brazil Shrike... Black-throated Shrike from 

 Feejee Islands. ..The Common Jay, &c. 



Many years ago, when rice was dear in Eastern China, efforts were made to bring it from Luzon, where it was 

 abundant. At Manilla there was, however, passed a singular law, to the effect that no vessel for China should 

 be allowed to load with rice unless it brought to Manilla a certain number of cages full of the little ' butcher 

 birds," we.l known to ornithologists. The reason for this most eccentric regulation simply was that the rice in 

 Luzon suffered much from locusts, and these locusts were destroyed in great numbers by butcher birds. In 

 our sublime and superior common sense such a law appears trivial. Yet if we could calculate the vast amount 

 of money annually lost to this country by insects, caused by the wanton and wicked destruction of birds, it 

 might not seem so very trifling after all. It might be even found to be advantageous to import or raise 

 large quantities of insectivorous birds. 



EAST SIDE Lower Shelf. Regent Oriole of Australia. ..Red-breasted Meadow-Lark of 

 Chili. ..Black Cassican of Tierra del Fuego... Australian Shrike of New South Wales, &c. 



WEST SIDE. Cassicans, Crows, and Meadow-Larks from Brazil and Australia. The beauti- 

 ful 1 black birds at the north end are the Satin Birds. 



CASE 6. 

 Fishes. 



CASE 7. 



EAf.T SIDE. Humming Birds from Chili, Brazil, &o. 



WEST SIDE Upper Shelf. Kingfishers frjm the Sandwich and Cape de Verde Islands, 

 Australia, Malacca, Brazil, &c...Goat Suckers or Night Jars. ..Great Ibyan of Brazil. 

 The Kingfishers, of all British birds, have the most brilliant plumage. The classic name of this beautiful 



