CLASS II. AVES: ORDER 2. PASSERES. 107 



The male of the Long-tailed Emerald Humming-Bird, T. jJolytmus, is furnished with a most 

 elegant forked tail, the two outer feathers being greatly prolonged and very slender. The whole 

 length of the bird is a little more than ten inches, but about seven inches and a half of this is 

 made up by tlie elongated feathers just mentioned. The head and the back of the neck of this 

 little gem are deep velvet-like black ; the whole of the back, with the wing and tail-coverts, golden- 

 green ; the wings and tail are purplish or bluish-black. The entire lower surface of the body are 

 of a most gorgeous emerald-green color, except the neighborhood of the vent and lower tail-cov- 

 erts, which are black. The bill is bright red, tipped with black, and the feathers of the back of 

 the head are elongated, forming a sort of crest, which can be erected to a certain extent. Mr. 

 Gosse gives the following account of its appearance in a state of nature, in his interesting work 

 entitled "A Naturalist's Sojourn in Jamaica": "While I was up in a calabash-tree, the beautiful 

 long-tailed humming-bird came shooting by, with its two long velvet-black feathers, fluttering like 

 streamers behind it, and began to suck at the blossoms of the tree in which I was. Quite regard- 

 less of my presence, consciously secure in its power of wing, the lovely little gem hovered around 

 the trunk, and threaded the branches, now probing here, now there, its cloudy wings on each 

 side vibrating with a noise like that of a spinning-wheel, and its emerald breast for a moment 

 flashing brilliantly in the sun's ray ; then apparently black, all the light being absorbed; then, as 

 it slightly turned, becoming a dark olive ; then in an instant, blazing forth again with emerald 

 effulgence. Several times it came close to me, as I sat motionless with delight, and holding my 

 breath for fear of alarming it and driving it away ; it seemed almost worth a voyage across the 

 sea to behold so radiant a creature in all the wildiiess of its native freedom." 



THE HONEY-EATERS AND HONEY-CREEPEES. 



These birds are mostly small in size, and are chiefly confined to Australia, New Guinea, New 

 Zealand, and the adjacent islands. The bill is rather long, curved, acute, and slightly notched at 

 the tip; the tail is long and broad. They feed on the pollen and nectar of flowers, and the 

 insects which they find in and around them. Their tongue is long and protrusile, with a tuft of 

 fibers at the end which aids them in obtaining their food. A few of the larger species feed on 

 fruits. Their nests are made on bushes, sometimes suspended from the ends of twigs ; the eggs 

 are usually two in number. This family is called Melijihagidfe by naturalists. 



There are numerous genera and species. The Poe-Bird or Tui, Prosthemadera Novm Ze- 

 landiie, is about the size of a thrush, of a fine glossy-black color, with two small tufts of white 

 feathers hanging down upon the sides of the neck. These tufts have been compared to a pair of 

 clerical bands, and, taken in conjunction with the black plumage of the rest of the body, have 

 obtained for it the name of the Parson-B/rd. It is a fine songster, and imitates every sound that 

 reaches its ear, even learning to speak with great ease and fluency. It is exceedingly lively and 

 restless, and feeds principally upon flies and small insects, which it is very expert in catching. It 

 also eats worms and fruits. Its flesh is said to be delicious. 



Another species peculiar to New Zealand is the Pogonornis cinctd, which is remarkable foi- the 

 great length of the tufts of feathers over the ears ; these are erected when the bird is alarmed, 

 and give it a very singular appearance. 



A remarkable Australian species is the Friar-Bird, Tropidorhi/nchus corniculatus, which has 

 the head and neck bare of feathers, and a curious tubercle at the base of the bill. Its voice is 

 loud and very singular, some of its notes having a certain degree of resemblance to particular 

 words, and several of its colonial names, such as Poor Soldier, PhnUco^ and Four-o''dock^ have 

 been derived from these notes. Its name of Friar-Bird alludes to its bare head, and the same 

 character has obtained for it the denominations of the Monk and the Leather-head. 



The Wattled Honey-Eater has a long wattle hanging down from each ear ; its note is described 

 as very harsh and disagreeable, resembling the noise made by a person vomiting ; the native 

 name, Goo-g war-ruck, is said to be an imitation of it. This is the Philcdon Goruck of Cuvicr. 



Another group, that of the M>jzomelinai or Honey-Creepers, is distinguished from the preceding 

 l>y having tiie third and fourth quills longest. In their habits and mode of life they resemble the 

 true honey-eaters. 



