16 CLASSIFICATION. 



lidce placed between the Nectarinida (American 

 Honey- suckers) and the Meliphagidce (Honey- 

 eaters, peculiar to Australia and the adjacent 

 islands of the Pacific Ocean). Now, we confess 

 that we do not consider the views of the zoolo<- 

 gists referred to, respecting the affinities, and, 

 consequently, the systemic position of the Hum- 

 ming-birds to be correct. They are not related 

 either to the Sun-birds of Africa and India, 

 nor to the Honey-suckers of America, nor to 

 the Honey-eaters of Australia. They consti- 

 tute a group per se, not, however, without some 

 alliance to the Swifts (Cypselidce), which form 

 a family entirely distinct from that of the Swal- 

 lows (Hirundinidci) . In many points of struc- 

 ture this affinity is manifested, as in the form of 

 the wing and the bones which support it the 

 abbreviation of the tarsi the expanse and pe- 

 culiar formation of the sternum and in the 

 number of the eggs, which is restricted to two. 

 The similarity of the sternum, with its enormous 

 keel, to that of the Swift, did not, as we have 

 seen, escape the notice of Cuvier. In fact, if 

 we look at the TKOCHILTJS GIGAS of the forests 

 of Chili (Naturalist's Library, vol. ii. p. 50), 

 making allowance for the length of bill, we shall 

 find it to be very Swift-like in general contour, 

 while the colouring of its plumage is dull. In 

 length this gigantic species measures nearly 

 eight inches. 



"We are not alone in our views relating to a 



