134 AVES. 



FAMILY IV. 



TENUIROSTRES. 



THIS family comprehends the remaining birds of (he first division ; those 

 in which the beak is slender, elongated, some- 

 times straight, and sometimes more or less arcu- 

 ated, and without any emargination. They are 

 to the Conirostres what the Motacillse are to the 

 other Dentirostres. 



SITTA, Linnaeus. 



The Nuthatches have a straight, prismatic, pointed beak, compressed near 

 the point, which they employ like the Woodpeckers to perforate the bark of 

 trees, and in withdrawing the larvae contained in it ; but their tongue is not 

 extensible ; and although they climb in every direction, they have but one toe 

 behind, which it is true is a strong one. The tail is of no use in supporting 

 them, as is the case with the Woodpeckers and True Creepers. 



CERTHIA, Linnceus, 



Or the Creepers, have an arcuated beak, but that is the only common cha- 

 racter they possess. The True Creepers, so called from their habit of climbing 

 trees like Woodpeckers, in doing which they make use of their tail as a prop 

 or supporter, are known by the quills of the tail, which are worn, and 

 terminate in a stiff point, like those of the same birds. They are divided 

 into various subgenera. 



TROCHILUS, Linnceus. 



The Hummingbirds, so celebrated for the metallic lustre of their plumage, 

 and chiefly for those plates, brilliant as precious 

 stones, which are formed by scaly feathers of a 

 peculiar structure, on their throat or head ; have a 

 long slender beak, inclosing a tongue which they can 

 protrude at will like the Woodpeckers (and by the 

 same mechanism), which is split almost to its base, 

 forming two filaments, employed, as is asserted, in 

 taking up the nectar from flowers. They also, how- 

 ever, feed on small insects, for we have found their 

 stomach filled with them. Their very small feet, broad tail, excessively long 

 and narrow wings, short humerus, and large sternum, which is without emar- 

 gination* all contribute to form a system adapted for great power of flight, 

 similar to that of the Swallow. The narrowness of their wing is caused by the 

 rapid abbreviation of its quills. By these means, they balance themselves in air 

 with nearly as much facility as certain flies, and it is thus that they hum about 

 flowers and fly with more proportionate rapidity than any other bird. They 

 live singly, defend their nests with courage, and fight desperately with each other. 



