Order II. PASSERES. Tribe II. Tenuirostres. Family II. Nectarinid^e. 



The second Subfamily, 



CjEREBIN^E, or Guitguits, 

 have the Bill longer or shorter than the head, sometimes curved throughout its length, or straight and 

 acutely conical, the base broad, and the sides compressed, with the tip usually emarginated ; the nostrils 

 basal and lateral, and protected by a hard scale ; the Wings long and rather pointed ; the Tail short 

 and mostly even; the Tarsi short, and the Toes moderate, slender, and the outer united at its base. 



C/ereba Vieill.* 



Bill lengthened, slender, arched, with the base broad, and the sides compressed towards the tip, which 

 is acute and finely emarginated ; the nostrils basal, lateral, and covered by a membranous scale. Wings 

 moderate, with the first quill spurious, the second rather shorter than the third and fourth, which are 

 nearly equal and longest. Tail short and square. Tarsi longer than the middle toe, and broadly 

 scutellated. Toes short, with the lateral ones unequal, the outer rather the longest ; the claws moderate, 

 curved, and acute. 



It is only in the warmer parts of South America, that the species of this genus are found. They are usually seen 

 on plants in flower ; these they examine for the small insects that usually hide in them, as well as for the nectar, which 

 they are enabled to extract by means of their tongue. The nest is suspended from the ends of slender branches, and 

 is in the form of a lengthened pear with a prolonged tube that bends towards the ground, with the entrance at the end. 

 It is composed of dried grass and slender fibres. The eggs are deposited in the interior of the broad part, which 

 protects the young from the attacks, not only of insects, but also of serpents and lizards. The young are said to be 

 born blind, remaining so until they are in a fit state to fly. 



1. C. cyanea (Linn.) Vieill. PI. enl. 8". f. %., Vieill. Ois. (lore's, 

 ii. t. 41, 42, 43. — Certhia cayana Linn. PI. enl. 682. f. 2. ; C. 

 flavipes Gmel. ; C. cyanog^stra Lath. ; C. armillata Sparrm. Mus. 

 Carls, t. 36. 



2. C. ccerulea (Linn.) Vieill. Edwards's Birds, pi. 21. f. 1., 

 Sparrm. Mus. Carls, t. 82., Vieill. Ois. dore's, t. 44, 45. — Certhia 

 ochrochlora Gmel. Penn. Gen. of Birds, pi. 3. f. 2. ; C. surinamensis 

 Lath. ; Fringilla cyanomelas Gmel. ? Nov. Com. Petr. xi. t. 15. f. 6. 



3. C. gutturalis (Linn.) PI. enl. 578. f. 3. 



4. C. gularis (Sparrm.) Vieill. Sparrm. Mus. Carls, t. 79- 



5. C. trochilea (Sparrm.) Sparrm. Mus. Carls, t. 80. 



6. C. coccinea (Linn.) — Certhia mexicana Gmel. Seba, t. 70. 

 f. 8. 



7. C.fulva (Gmel.). 



8. C. purpurea (Gmel.) Seba, t. 72. f. 2. 



9. C. variegala (Gmel.) Vieill. Seba, t. 3. f. 3. 



Dacnis Cuv.\ 

 Bill short and conical, with the culmen and lateral margin very slightly curved to the tip, which is 

 acute ; the side of the lower mandible at the base, broad and strong ; and the gonys long, straight, and 

 advancing upwards to the tip ; the nostrils basal, lateral, and covered with a membranous scale. Wings 

 moderate, with the first quill spurious, and the second nearly as long as the third and fourth, which are 

 the longest. Tail moderate, and slightly emarginated. Tarsi long, the length of the middle toe, and 

 broadly scutellated. Toes moderate, slender, with the lateral toe equal to the outer, which is united at 

 the base ; the hind toe long and slender ; the claws rather long, compressed, and much curved. 



* Established by Vieillot in 1807. It is coequal with Nectarinia of Cuvier (1817). 

 t Established by Cuvier in 1817 (Regne Animal, i. p. 395.) 



