VERTEBRATA: AVES. 627 



The Shrikes are highly predaceous birds, which in many 

 respects make a close approach to the true Birds of Prey. 

 They feed, however, mostly upon worms and insects, and only 

 occasionally destroy small birds or mice. 



The great family of the Thrushes (Merulidce) comprises not 

 only the true Thrushes, Fieldfares, and Blackbirds, but a 

 number of exotic forms, of which the most familiar are the 

 Orioles, so well known for their brilliant plumage and their 

 beautifully-constructed nests. 



In the Sylviadce, amongst other forms, are the Wagtails 

 (Motacillince) and the Pipits (Anthus), the Titmice, Robins, 

 Hedge-sparrow, Stonechat, Redstarts, and other well-known 

 British birds. The Titmice (Paridce) are often placed in the 

 sub-order of the Conirostres. The Nightingale also belongs to 

 this family. 



Sub-order 3. Tenuirostres. The members of this sub-order 

 are characterised by the possession of a long and slender beak, 

 gradually tapering to a point (fig. 345, A). The toes are very 

 long and slender, the hind-toe or hallux especially so. Most 

 of the Tenuirostral birds live upon insects, and some of these 

 present a near resemblance in many of their characters to the 

 Dentirostres, but it is asserted that some live partially or wholly 

 on the juices of flowers. 



The chief families of the Tenuirostres are the Creepers 

 (Ctrikida)) the Honey -eaters (Meliphagidcz), the Humming- 

 birds (Trochilidtz), the Sun -birds (Promeropida>\ and the 

 Hoopoes ( Upuptda\ of which only the Creepers and Hum- 

 ming-birds need any further notice. 



The family Certhidcz includes several familiar British birds, 

 such as the little brown Creeper (Certhia familiaris), the 

 Nuthatch (Sitta Europaa), and the Wrens (Troglodytes). With 

 these are a number of exotic forms, of which the singular 

 Lyre-birds of Australia are the most remarkable. 



The family of the Trochilida, or Humming-birds, includes 

 the most fragile and brightly coloured of all the birds, some 

 not weighing more than twenty grains when alive, and many 

 exhibiting the most brilliant play of metallic colours. The 

 Humming-birds are pre-eminently South American, but extend 

 northwards as far even as the southern portions of Canada. 

 The bill is always very long and slender, as are the toes also. 

 The tongue is bifid and tubular, and appears to be used either 

 to catch insects within the corollas of flowers, or to suck up 

 the juices of the flowers themselves. The plumage of the 

 males is always brilliant, with metallic reflections, that of the 



