PASSERINyE. 



209 



The PnOMEROi'SES {Promcrops, Bribsoii), — 

 Are not cresterl, but possess a very long tail; tlieir tougue, furcate and extensile, enables tbem to suck 

 the nectar of liowcrs, like the Humming-birds and Sun-birds. 



[There are many species, found only in the warm regions of t!ie eastern licmisphere.] 



The Epimaohus, Cuv., — 

 Consists of Hirds, which, with tlie beak of the Hoopoes and Promeropses, combine velvety or scale- 

 like feathers, which partly cover the nostrds, as in the Birds-of-Paradise ; they inhabit also tlie same 

 countries, and have equally gorgeous plumage. The males have even tufts of lengthened feathers, 

 more or less produced, upon the flanks. 



The Superb Epimachus [Upupa mrigna, Lin.). — Black, with a j^radiKiteil tail, tliree times lonf,^er than t]ie body ; 

 the feathers on the flanks elongated, turned up, and frizzled, with the edges of a burnished steel-blue ; and moat 

 magnificent coloured glosses on the plumage generally. 



Naturalists have distinguished the square-tailed species, or 



The Ftiloris, Swainson, — 

 Sucli as the Twelve-wired Epimachus {Ep. albm ; Paradisom alba, Blum.), which was long ranged among the 

 Birds-of-Faradise, on account of the long bunches of white plumes which decorate its flanks, the stems of them 

 being prolonged into six barbless fliaments on each side. The body is usuidly violet-black, and tlie feathers on 

 the bottom of the breast have an edging or border of emerald green. Ep. magnificat) Cuv., and Ejj. regiiis. 

 Lesson, are two other superb species of this subdivision. 



The second anil smaller priiiciiial division of the Passerind: consists of Birds wherein the 

 outer toe is nearly as long as the middle one, and connected to it as far as the second joint. 

 "We make but one group of them, that of 



TnE SVNDACTYLI, 



Long since divided into five genera, which we retain. [None of them are raodihed upon the 

 distinct type of the Passeriiue.~\ 



The IlioE-EATERs (Hh'rojtft, Lin.) — 

 Have a lengthened beak, triangular at its base, slightly arcuated, and sharp-pointed. Their sternum 

 (Sg. 97) is doubly cinarginated bebiiid : [iliey have a membranaceous stomach, and no ea;ca ; a short 

 ami beart-sbaped tongue, and veiy tliiek skin.] Their long and iiointed wings, and short feet, render 

 tlieir flight similar to that of a Swailow. Tlicy pursue insecls in 

 flocks, and particularly Bees and M'asps, by whicli it is remarkable 

 that tliey are never stung [seizing the insect and at once eriisbing it 

 by tlie snap of their powerfully compressive beak : are peculiar to the 

 eastern beuiisphere, and nearly allied to the Kinglisliers and RoUers. 



These birds have brilliant plumage, and tail variously shaped, but gene- 

 rally with the uropygial feathers elongated : they excavate deep holes in 

 banks, hke the Kingfishers, and lay similar spherical polished white eggs, six 

 or eight ill number; the young retaining their first plumage till the second 

 autmnii. 



of iiunierous species, there is one common in the south of Europe during 

 saininier, but rare in the latitude of Brituin, whirh it seldom visits (J/, apias- 

 Icr, Lin.); anotlier (^1/. pcrsicns, Pallas), visits the soutll-east of Europe. 

 These birds often watch their jirey from the summit of tiL'cs, to which t]it_-y 

 return after skimming aliout for a minute or two. 



It is necessary to distinguish from tbem 



The Nyctiornis, Gould, — 

 ■\Vhieh have shorter beaks, and softer and denser plumage, loose and pulTy upon the throat. Their 

 habits are crepuscidar or noctuinal, and their distribution is conlined to Asia. 

 Three or four species are known, which arc very noisy daring their time of activity]. 

 The Bee-caters are represented in America by 



The JIotmots {Prionites, Illiger), — 

 Which have the same feet and port [their tarsi being however longer], but diff'er hy a stronger bill, 



P 



