NECTARINIDiE 359 



The relations inter se of the other families are admitted by all, and 

 they form Bonaparte's Curvirostres, and, says that accomplished 

 naturalist, they lead to the Crows through the Glaucopincs. Some of 

 the tribe lead towards the Thrushes and Bulbuls, by means of several 

 of the MeliphagidcB on one side, and the Orioles and Phyllornis on 

 the other ; and perhaps some are related to the Pardalotus group. 

 Other external relations have been already pointed out. 



Fam. NECTARiNiDiE, Vigors. 



Syn. Cinnyrid<2, Swains. ; PromeropidcB, Gray, Honey-suckers, 



or Sun-birds. 



Bill of various length, generally long, more or less curved, 

 generally entire ; nostrils basal, usually nearly covered by a scale ; 

 wings moderate, more or less rounded ; nine or ten primaries, 3rd 

 and 4th longest ; wing-coverts short ; tarsus moderate, with broad 

 scales ; feet moderate ; hind -claw equal to, or scarcely longer, than 

 that of the middle-toe. 



The Honey-suckers of the old world take the place of the Hum- 

 ming-birds of America, some of them almost rivalling the brilliant 

 and metallic splendour of their relations across the Atlantic. 

 Like them, they chiefly feed on the nectar of flowers, but mix it 

 more with minute insects infesting flowers, and many live chiefly 

 on spiders. They vary much in form of bill, from the long sickle- 

 like bill of A rachnothera to the short, thick, almost Finch-like, bill 

 of Piprisoma and Prionochilus, and the mandibles of some are 

 finely serrated ; the tongue is long, pointed, bifid in some, 

 but not brushed. The central tail-feathers of many are elongated. 

 The sexes generally differ in colour, the male only having the 

 brilliant plumage. In some this is assumed as a nuptial dress ; in 

 others it is a permanent attire. Most of the birds of this group 

 are from Asia, many are from Africa, and a few from the Oceanic 

 province. Most of them build domed nests, more or less suspended 

 from the end of twigs or small branches. 



We have several well marked divisions in this family; 1st, the 

 Nectarbdnce or Sun-birds, from Africa and Asia ; 2nd, Promero- 

 pi;/fl?, from Africa ; 3rd, D repaniiua hom. Oceania; 4th, Dicceince, 



