﻿42 UiV THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 



position of the feathers in preserved specimens, it is ob- 

 vious that the hinder part of the crest is not so procum- 

 bent as those last mentioned : we suspect also, that the 

 crest of the Corythaix erythrolophus is differently formed 

 to that of a species now before us (which is possibly 

 the C. Buffoni of Wagler), where the hinder part 

 appears adapted for reposing upon the occiput. It is 

 somewhat surprising that, on a subject so interesting as 

 that we have now discussed, every author we have con- 

 sulted should be is altogether silent. The crests of birds 

 are their most beautiful ornaments, and no student 

 would have imagined they were so much diversified. 

 By following up this inquiry, it will be found, that 

 particular sorts of crests belong to particular types, 

 all those, for instance, which radiate from the crown, 

 and which we have termed concealed, belong to those 

 incesscrial groups which represent the tyrant flycatchers. 

 Those with helmet-like or compressed crests, on the con- 

 trary, are chiefly representations of the typical Rasores ; 

 at least Rupicola, Metopia, and probably Calyptomina, 

 are of that type ; although the latter has indications also 

 of the fissirostral structure in its wings. 



(48.) In some few birds there are certain appendages to 

 the head, which, although not strictly coming under the 

 denomination of crests, are, in some degree, analogous 

 thereto : the ornaments we allude to are certain bare 

 shafted feathers, very greatly elongated, which spring out 

 on each side, close to the ear, and of the use of which we 

 are altogether ignorant. Incipient indications of these 

 singular plumes may be detected in the violet-eared hum- 

 ming bird*; but they are more lengthened in Tr. rufus 

 and ornatus, although in these latter birds they proceed 

 more from the sides of the neck than from the head ; 

 but in that most resplendent creature, the six-shafted 

 Paradise bird, these feathers are at their maximum, mea- 

 suring near five inches ; they are completely spear-shaped ; 

 and although perfectly naked, except at their tips, are 

 there ornamented with a spatulate web of resplendent 



* Trochilus auratus, Braz. Birds, vol. i. pi. 29. 



