A STUDY IN BIRDS' TAILS. 245 



the Woodpecker family. The four centre tail feathers are black, 

 the rest are more or less white, and spotted near the tip with 

 black; under surface, white. 



That ever interesting and wonderful species the Humming 

 Birds supply us with many curiosities and traits of bird life, 

 and pages might be devoted to them alone. An illustration 

 of the tail of the Bar Tailed Humming-Bird will be sufficient 

 to show one of their divergencies. Compare this bar-tail with 

 that of the Woodpecker, and the reader will at once see a for- 

 cible illustration of the variances of Nature's workings. This 

 variety is at once identified by the shape of its tail, which is 

 forked at the base, and consists of two diverging portions, each 

 containing five feathers, graduating in length one beyond another. 

 Their colour is of the richest flame, or bright orange red, 

 with a dazzling metallic lustre and a broad mark of black at 

 the tip 



The tail of the Yellow Bunting is not particularly attractive, in 

 fact, rather of an ordinary description, and this is why I am 

 illustrating it, for the reason that when placed side by side with 

 the tail of, say, the Resplendent Trogon, even the most unobservant 

 must confess to the correctness of my opening remarks as to 

 the truly astonishing variance which exists even in birds' tails. 

 The tail of the Yellow Hammer by which name this bird is 

 more generally known is slightly forked, dusky, edged with 

 greenish-yellow, the two outer feathers marked with white on 

 the exterior webs. 



What has been very accurately termed the " Sentinel of the 

 Woods" the Jay is a very beautifully plumed bird, and although 

 the tail is not very attractive as regards its colouring, it is of 

 a character which warrants its inclusion here, and as diversity 

 is my watchword, I give an illustration of it. 



The tail of this crafty, cunning bird is black. It is probably 

 the most beautifully coloured specimen of the Crow tribe. 



The tail of the little Sedge Warbler next claims our attention. 

 When spread as my sketch depicts - it gives it the appearance 

 of a rounded shape. The country-side would indeed lose a charm 

 minus this interesting bird. It possesses the imitative faculty 

 in great perfection, and may be heard uttering the notes of 

 many British Song Birds with much precision and exactness. 



