SUGAR AS A NUTRIENT 83 



though they will live on it at times for weeks ; 

 Mr. Hamlyn brought a specimen of the Malachite 

 Sun-bird (Nectarinia famosa) all the way from 

 South Africa on plain syrup only, and another 

 London dealer, Mr. De Von, brought a Humming- 

 bird — and a young one at that — over from the 

 West Indies on the same simple diet. It is true 

 that neither survived long, but these small birds 

 must find more nutriment in sugar than it is gener- 

 ally credited with affording. 



Besides the Sun-birds, which are typical Passerines, 

 another passerine group are well-known nectar- 

 feeders ; these are the Honey-eaters of Australasia, 

 which are the common " small birds " of that 

 region ; they are birds of quite ordinary appear- 

 ance, for though some are very small and bright- 

 hued, with long curved beaks, like Sun-birds, most 

 are plain in tint, and in size equal Finches or even 

 Thrushes and Jays, while their beaks are not very 

 strongly curved. They have, however, a tubular 

 tongue v?ith a brush- tip, and feed mostly on honey 

 when they can get it, though taking plenty of 

 insects as well. All these honey-eating insectivores, 

 by the way, capture insects with the beak, just as 

 Woodpeckers often do. 



Other passerine birds scattered here and there 

 in different groups are very fond of sweet juice, and 

 have extensile if not very modified tongues for 

 obtaining it ; such are the lovely leaf-green Bulbuls 

 of the genus Chloropsis in the East, the active 

 Sibias among the Babblers, and the American 



