332 INSESSORES. 



tongue, by which, and not by the bill, these birds suck, or lick 

 up the nectar of flowers, drawing in with the honied liquid, 

 multitudes of minute insects, which form the solid part of their 

 food. The feet are very short and delicate. 



The smallest birds, and those the most brilliantly adorned, are 

 found in this group. Many of the genera are clothed with a 

 plumage of metallic lustre; on particular parts of their bodies, 

 especially the forehead and throat, they have feathers of a scale- 

 like appearance, which reflect the varying hues of precious 

 stones. The Thin-billed Birds are principally to be found in 

 the tropical regions, but many species visit the temperate zones, 

 and a few are permanent residents of high latitudes. They are 

 arranged into five families: (1,) Promeropida or Upupida, 

 Hoopoes; (2,) Cinnyrida or Nectarinida, Sun Birds; (3.) 

 Trochilida, Humming Birds; (4,) Meliphagidce, Honey-Eaters; 

 (5,) Certhiada, Creepers. 



FIRST FAMILY. HOOPOES. 



Promeropida, (Gr. Ttgofisqoifj , promerops,) or Upupida, (Lat. 

 upupa, a hoopoe.) 



The Hoopoes are a small family of birds confined to the Old 

 World, and most of them found in Africa and India. They ex- 

 hibit some relations to the Bee-Eaters of the Fissirostral division. 

 One species, me Common Hoopoe, visits Europe in company 

 with the Bee- Eaters and other Swallow-like birds, but unlike 

 them, walks upon the moist ground and newly turned earth, in 

 search of insects and their larvse; but the species of the genus 

 Promerops, seek for minute insects in the corollas of flowers. 

 The Common, or European Hoopoe, U. epops, (Gr. epops, a 

 hoopoe,) receives its name from the cry of the male bird, which 

 is 4i /ioop, hoop." It has a very long and slender beak, slightly 

 curved throughout its length, and compressed at the sides; long 

 and rounded wings, and a long and broad lail. The toes are 

 three before and one behind ; the hind toe is long, with a long 

 and nearly straight claw. The head is furnished with an 

 erectile crest, the feathers of whicn are of a ruddy buff-color, 

 terminated with black ; the plumage presents striking contrasts 

 of color, black, gray, buff, yellowish-white and white. The 

 length is twelve and a half inches. It has been known to breed 

 in England ; building its nest in hollow trees, and laying from 

 four to seven eggs, of a pale bluish gray hue. The Red beaked 

 Promerops, P. erythrorliyncus, (Gr. red- beaked,) has a very long 

 wedge-like tail, but is without an erectile crest. The long, 



