CLASSIFICATION. 



The Sun-birds form part of the large group of Honey-suckers, which in their turn constitute 

 an important division of the order Passeriformes or Perching birds. The members of the 

 family Nectariniidse, as restricted by me in the present work, are birds of small size, graceful 

 in their motions, and extremely active in their habits. The plumage of the males, in most 

 instances, differs strongly from that of the females, and is often of unrivalled brilliancy : the 

 metallic colours blend gradually, and are not so sharply contrasted as in the Humming-birds; 

 but, like these, their plumage throws off an ever changing variety of hues according to the light 

 in which they are viewed. 



Their nests are always beautiful structures, and are suspended from the end of a bough or 

 from the underside of a leaf; and, excepting in the case of the Arachnotherince, the structure is 

 of a lengthened oval form with an entrance at the side near the top, over which is often 

 constructed a projecting portico. Apparently to give to the structure the external appearance 

 of a mere mass of rubbish drifted together by the wind, it is generally partially covered with 

 rougher materials, such as shreds of bark and leaves loosely attached to the surface by cobwebs. 

 The full complement of eggs appears rarely to exceed three ; but they are often not so many. 



The Sun-birds feed principally upon minute insects and the honey from flowers, for sipping 

 which their tongues are admirably adapted. 



The wings, feet, and tarsi are moderate in strength and size ; and they are not adapted, 

 like the Humming-birds, for poising in front of the flowers to feed ; but they cling to them, more 

 after the manner of the Paridse or Tits. 



The following is the classification I propose for this family : — 



Family NECTAFJNIID^E. 



Bill long, slender, and finely pointed ; edges of the mandibles very finely serrated. Nostrils 

 placed in a short oval groove, covered by a membrane opening in a slit. Tongue bifurcated, 

 and supposed to be capable of being rolled up into a double tube. Wing with ten primaries, 

 first generally the shortest, third and fourth the longest. Tail of twelve feathers, very variable 

 in form, but never forked ; feathers only moderately stiff, not adapted for climbing. Tarsus 

 moderate, covered with broad scales. Toes moderate, armed with curved and acute claws. 



Mange. Africa; Madagascar and the neighbouring islands; Palestine; Southern Asia; 

 Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Philippines, Celebes, New Guinea, North Australia, and the Papuan 

 and Moluccan archipelagos. Not found in Europe or North Africa, Northern Asia, nor in any 

 portion of the western hemisphere. 



