634 BIOLOGY. 



Fishes, in whom also the head has scarcely separated 

 itself from the thorax. 



The uniformity of the feet and toes is likewise an 

 inferior character, as it is found in the Dermal Reptiles 

 and Fishes ; while in the Sarcose Reptilia and Fishes the 

 feet and fins make their appearance in the greatest 

 variety, both as regards the form and length of the feet 

 themselves, as the structure of the toes ; and such is the 

 case too in the higher organized Birds. 



The same holds good also of the form of the head, and 

 expecially of the maxillse and teeth, which are very 

 uniform in the lower Fishes and Reptiles, but occur 

 under very varied conditions in the upper kinds, exactly 

 as in the Natatores and Gralla3, in the Gallinse and 

 Struthionidse. 



Order 1 . Protozooid Birds Tenuirostres. 



3554. Bill awl-shaped. 



These Birds present a resemblance to each other, not 

 simply in their mode of feeding, since they are collectively 

 insectivorous, but also in the slenderness of their form, 

 and in the dazzling, varied, sharply denned, and very 

 striking colours of their plumage, as well as in their 

 habits, for they employ their feet and tail usually for the 

 purposes of support, and so climb about the upright 

 stems and branches of trees. 



Among them also occur the smallest sized Birds, a 

 fact which, compared with a similar one in the Thricozoa, 

 indicates likewise their lower grade or rank. 



Fam. 1. Infusorial Birds, Tree-runners or Creepers. 



Bill awl-shaped, three toes in front Humming-birds, 

 Tree-creepers. 



The small size of the Humming-birds seems to render 

 them the lowest in rank of the class, and by this means 

 the system obtains a point of departure, unto which 

 similar forms may be annexed. Their manner of feeding 

 is rather a process of lapping, than an actual snapping 

 with the bill; their food also, which consists of small 

 Beetles and their larvae, requires scarcely any ' operation 



