74 THE BIRDS OF CALCUTTA. 



quantity of their comparatively innutritious food 

 whether they do so by hovering bee-like like the 

 American " hummers," or by perching and clinging 

 on slender twigs, like our birds and the much larger 

 Australian honey-birds. And in addition they need a 

 long-pointed bill to run into the flowers, which incase 

 of need becomes a bayonet-like weapon against any 

 other bird. Our httle Honeysucker's tongue is also 

 long, and split into filaments at the tip and tubular 

 in form, so as to suck up the liquid nectar. So fond 

 is he of sweets, and so fearless, that a captured bird 

 will readily sip up syrup' if he be held in the hand 

 and his bill dipped into the liquid. Indeed, for a 

 short time the Honeysucker will appear contented 

 enough in confinement, and continually give out 

 his lively ittle song of " Chi-chit, chit-che-wee," 

 as if he were at liberty. But unless he be provided 

 with insect-food in addition to honey, he will not 

 survive very long, for his dinner must include a course 

 of meat as well as sweets. And in any case, I hope 

 none of my readers will cage this dear little bird 

 unless for purposes of export to Europe or elsewhere, 

 for so harmless and happy a little being should be left 

 alone in his native country as much as possible ; 

 though it is, I think, quite legitimate to cage such 

 birds in order to give people who cannot see them 

 wild some idea of what they are like in hfe. 



