96 BIRD GALLERY. 



more definite characters the absence or presence of the serration has 

 been used in grouping the numerous genera, but the classification of 

 the Humming-birds is extremely difficult, many of the genera being 

 hard to define and grading imperceptibly into one another. 



The first flight-feather is at times attenuated, as in the genera 

 Atthis (1327), Aglteactis (1310), and others, or the shafts of the quills 

 may be broad and stiffened, as in the Sabre-wings, Sphenoproctus and 

 Campylopterus (1292). The shape of the tail, too, varies enormously, but 

 all these differences in structure are best appreciated by a careful study 

 of the comparative preparations exhibited on the tablet in the Case. 



The small round, or sometimes purse-shaped, nest, generally composed 

 of the down of plants, felted and covered with spiders' webs and soft 

 lichens, is placed on a branch or suspended from a leaf. The eggs are 

 white and one or two in number, and the young when hatched are 

 blind and naked. 



Among the more remarkable forms we may draw special attention 

 to the Sword-billed Humming-bird (Docimastes ensiferus) (1298) with an 

 enormously lengthened bill, which enables the bird to probe the long 

 tubular flowers in search of tiny insects. Eutoxeres (1288) has the bill 

 curved almost in a semicircle, and feeds on spiders which it catches 

 in the crevices of trees and walls. Loddigesia mirabilis (1309) is one 

 of the rarest and most marvellous members of the family on account 

 of its remarkable tail. In the female and young male ten rectrices ox- 

 tail-feathers are present as usual, but in the adult male there are only 

 four, a very small pair in the middle and a greatly eloDgate pair on 

 the outside, which cross one another and end in a " racquet." This 

 species was discovered in Northern Peru by a botanist named Matthews 

 in 1836, and the single specimen then procured remained unique till, 

 in 1881, the locality was rediscovered by M. Stolzmaun. A number of 

 specimens have since been brought to Europe. 



Family XIV. COLIIDJE. COLIES. 



[Case 03.] The position of the Colics in the classification of birds has been much 

 discussed, but it is now generally admitted that they should be placed 

 among the Coraciiformes, and in close proximity to the Trogons. 



The family includes only the genus Colius (1360-1363), with nine 

 brownish or greyish crested species, all of which are natives of Africa, 

 where they are known as Mouse-birds on account of their creeping habits. 

 The plumage of the sexes is similar. All four toes are directed forwards, 

 but the first can be turned backwards at will. They are all fruit- 

 eaters, and live in small bands among the thick bushes, where they 

 climb and creep about among the branches, the bill being used to aid 



