158 INTRODUCTION. 



is present, even more boldly developed ; but these 

 do take insects as food, and when better known, the 

 species which possess the dentation may and will 

 be found to vary very considerably in their manner 

 of feeding. 



In these observations, we are borne out by the 

 remarks of a recent traveller and indefatigable 

 observer; Dr. Smith tells us, in his Zoology of 

 Southern Africa, " The birds of the genus Cin- 

 nyris have generally been regarded as feeding 

 upon the saccharine juices which exist in flowers ; 

 but as far as my experience goes, I should be in- 

 clined to consider them as giving a preference to 

 insects. In those I examined, I found the bulk 

 of the contents of the stomach to be insects, though 

 at the same time each contained more or less of a 

 saccharine juice. The acquisition of a certain por- 

 tion of the latter is not easily to be avoided, con- 

 sidering the manner they insert their bills into 

 flowers, but the consumption of insects of a size 

 such as I have found in their stomachs, must easily 

 be obviated, provided these were not agreeable to 

 their palates, and not actually a description of food 

 which they by choice selected." 



We find many of the species also frequenting a 

 particular genus of plants, and even particular spe- 

 cies. The Proteae are in Africa general favourites. 

 Vaillant's Sucrier Figuer frequents a species of 

 scentless jessamine,* and these will no doubt be 

 the resorts of peculiar groups of insects, affording a 

 * Vaill., vi. 159. 



