SERICULUS CHRYSOCEPHALUS. 



cated by the meaning of the generic name, and by the habits of its con- 

 geners, some of which we know to be entirely suctorial, or to feed nearly 

 in the same way as the Humming-birds of South America. It is the al- 

 leged structure of the tongue, in the present species (for it has not yet 

 been seen or examined), that has given rise to this opinion ; but even 

 if, upon examination, it should be found to be formed as in those birds 

 which are truly nectiferous, we do not think it at all conclusive that the 

 nourishment is derived by suctorial means. We have instances of analo- 

 gous structure in many others, as in the genera Ramphastos and Ptero- 

 giossus, which feed even occasionally on animal food, though chiefly on 

 the juicy and luxuriant fruits so abundant in tropical countries ; and the 

 cartilaginous pencils with which their tongues are furnished, seem only to 

 assist in the taste, or to give additional zest to the exquisite delight they 

 appear to experience when slowly devouring one of these. Some species 

 in our own country which are entirely frugivorous possess this structure 

 in a less degree : the Brambling or Mountain-finch (Fringilla montifrin- 

 gilla, Linn.), has the tongue tipped with a short thick pencil of fibres, and 

 they can only be employed as organs of taste, or perhaps assist to place 

 more accurately the different grains in a proper position to be shelled by 

 the edges of the bill. In the New Holland genera Creadion and Mimeta, 

 the tongue is also composed at the tip of a large brush of apparently no- 

 thing more than cartilaginous fibres ; but the form of these species is not 

 at all particularly adapted for procuring their food in the manner of the 

 true suctorial birds ; and we should very much doubt, if creatures of their 

 size and strength, and of course requiring a proportionate quantity of nou- 

 rishment, could draw sufficient from the nectar of flowers to support them 

 in the ordinary offices of their fives. For these reasons, we think it more 

 probable, that all those large species with brush-like tongues, with which 

 New Holland abounds, five and derive their sustenance much in the same 

 manner as the Ramphastidce of South America, with this difference only, 

 that it is never derived from animal substances ; but until we receive some 

 authentic information from some person who will take the trouble to ob- 

 serve these birds in their native solitudes, all our opinions must be spe- 

 culative and uncertain. 



This species was first figured and described by Lewin under the name 

 of King's Honey-eater, — a name given to it in honour of King, who ac- 

 companied Captain Cook in his well-known voyages. It is a native of 

 New Holland, and inhabits chiefly the borders of the Paramatta River.. 



