262 BIRDS. ANISODACTYLI. 



Gen. 11. NECTARINIA, Illig. Certhia, Lin. Cinnyris, Cuv. 



Bill long, slender, subulate, more or less bent, widened and de- 

 pressed at the base ; mandibles equal ; edges of the under 

 mandible bent inwards, and in part concealed by the upper; 

 tongue long, extensible, tubular, bifid ; nostrils near the base, 

 lateral, shut above by a naked membrane ; tarsus longer or 

 as long as the intermediate toe, the lateral toes united at the 

 base ; wings, first feather none or very short, the third and 

 fourth the longest. 



All the known species of this genus belong to the warmer parts of the Old Con- 

 tinent. They do not climb, but hop from flower to flower, exploring the nectary 

 for food. 



N. ckalybea, Tern. Head, neck, breast, smaller wing-coverts, and 

 back golden green ; wings and tail dusky brown ; breast red, 

 banded above by a steel-blue bar. 4f inches long. Inhabits South- 

 ern Africa Shaw, viii. pi. 28. 



N. Javanica, Tern. Head above, nape, and back deep olive green; 

 shoulders and rump glossy violet ; wings and cheeks olive brown ; 

 throat and jugulum rust-coloured; breast and abdomen saffron 

 colour ; tail black. 4| inches long. Java. Lin. Trans, xiii. 167. 



N. longirostra, Tern. Plumage blackish olive ; crown and nape 

 pale green ; throat and breast white ; abdomen yellowish. 5 in- 

 ches long ; bill 1 J inch long. Bengal. Tern. PL Col. 84, fig. 1. 



N. pectoralis, Tern. (N. eximia, Horsf.) Top of the head and tail 

 deep glossy emerald green ; two middle tail-feathers elongated ; 

 rump yellow ; throat and breast scarlet ; a band of purple on the 

 throat; belly olive brown. 4J inches long. Inhabits Java 

 Tern. PL Col. 138, fig. 3. 



Gen. 12. CLIMACTERIS, Tern. 



Bill short, much compressed, awl-shaped; mandibles equal, point- 

 ed ; nostrils covered by a naked membrane ; tarsus the length 

 of the middle toe, which, with the thumb, is very long ; claws 

 large and hooked, furrowed on the sides ; exterior toe united 

 to the second joint, the anterior to the first ; third and fourth 

 wing-feathers longest. 



C. scandens, Tern. Plumage above deep brown ; rump and two 

 middle tail-feathers lead-coloured; throat and neck in front white; 

 breast and belly cream yellow; sides and under tail-coverts 

 varied with brown and white ; wings brown, with two transverse 

 bands, of inches long. New Holland. Tern. PI. Col. 281, fig. 2. 



C. picumnusj Tern. Plumage brown above ; throat and cheeks whit- 

 ish ; breast, top of the head, and neck gray ; wings brown, with 

 a transverse yellowish band. 6J inches long. Inhabits New 

 Holland, &c Tern. PL Col. 281, fig. 1. 



Gen. 13. TICHODROMA, Illig. Certhia, Lin. 

 Bill very long, slightly arched, slender, cylindrical, angular 



