420 DIVISION I. VEUTEBKAL ANIMALS. — CLASS II. AVES. 



These birds arc generally of diminutive size, and of most beautiful plu- 

 mage. Their habits are somewhat similar to those of the humming birds. 

 In fact, these birds replace in the Old ^Vorld the hununing birds of the New. 

 The ]S[('lipha[iina., or Iloney-suckers and Honey Creepers, are also confined 

 to the Old World, being found in Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea. 

 Melip]ta(i<(, the typical genus, is thus described by Gray : — ■ 



"The vast continent of Australia contains most of the species of this 

 ffcnus, thouirh a few^ have been discovered on tiic islands that lie oft' its 

 northern side. AVhercver the Eucalypti and tiic Bauksias arc seen in 

 flower, there are found these birds seeking their principal food, which con- 

 sists of the pollen and juices that abound in the Howcrs of those trees. They 

 also feed on the small insects that lie concealed in them, and the fruits and 

 berries of various kinds of plants. Tlicir mo^ cmeuts among the Iiranclies 

 are very active, and at the same time accompanied wilii a scries of graceful 

 and easy motions ; and their rapid and jerking flight is only extended from 

 tree to tree. Tiic note of tliese birds consists of a loud, shrill, whistling noise, 

 which, however, is rather melodious in some species. The nest is usually 

 built in some low tree or bush. It is composed of small twigs, coarse grass, 

 moss, and strips of bark, lined interinrly with soft materials, principally de- 

 rived from plants. The eggs are generally two or tiu'ee in number.'' 



Tlie Sun Birds, Honey Birds, Honey Creepers, of various authors, are 

 comprehended in this group. Their niniibcrs are great, and tiieir habits in- 

 teresting, althougli but little is kiu)wn concerning very many of tiie species. 



Like the marsu[)ial animals of their own iiomes, a group, to all appear- 

 ance eipially anomalous, wliich contains witiiin its own circle representatives 

 of nearly if not all the otiicr groups of the Muiuinalia, lliis division of 

 birds comprises every form whicli is o!)servai)le among the families of the 

 Inses.sores. From the powerfidly-constriicted and strong-billed Corvidce 

 down to the slender M'-ropi^, every Inscssorial group seems to have its 

 analogous type in tiiis funily. Tlicir approacli to the Scansorial tribe is 

 strongly conspicuous. The hind toe of tlie greater portion of the group is 

 long, powerful, and apparently formed for climbing. In this point of view, 

 they seem, in Australia, to sujiply the place of the genuine Plci. Mr. 

 Lewin, in his "Birds of New Holland," describes the \Varty-faced Honey- 

 sucker {Mdiphaga Phryyia) as constantly flying from tree to tree, ex- 

 tracting the honey from the blossoms with their long tongues, and speaks 

 of another species — tlie Ijlue-faced Honey-sucker — as jiicking transverse 

 holes in the bark, between which and tiie wood it inserts its long tongue in 

 search of small insects, whicli it draws out with great dexterity. 



We see, then, that while the varieties of form among these birds are 

 numerous, their habits are no less varied, and tlicir study must offer a great 

 field for the future ornitholoirist. 



