SMALLER BIRDS. 
• 397 
golden tint, with a white breast. It is like a 
large Muscovite duck, and inhabits dry salt 
" vleys." It is armed at the pinions with 
sharp spurs, similar to those possessed by the 
Secretary-bird. 
Amongst the smaller tribes we must not here 
linger, so numerous and varied are they. The 
trees, bushes, reeds, grass, and, indeed, the 
whole landscape is alive with their flitting 
gaudy forms, delighting the eyes of the natu- 
ralist, and exciting his admiration and curiosity 
at every turn. 
Shrikes without number, Flycatchers, Bee- 
eaters, Butcher-birds, Finches, Buntings, Cuc- 
koos, Metches, Dedricks, Lories, Toucans, Par- 
rots, Woodpeckers, Larks, Doves, and Honey 
Eaters, flock in countless numbers around, all 
demanding a reason why they should be exclu- 
ded from the list, when others are described. 
We must therefore leave them to flit about 
through their forest glades, unheeded or un- 
heard of save by those who live amongst them, 
and have the better opportunity of cultivating 
their acquaintance. 
Ere leaving this ornithological notice, how- 
ever, one remark we shall venture upon the 
" Cinnyris " or Honey Eaters — those little bril- 
liant gaudy things, which have long been sup- 
posed only fit, while alive, to suck honey from 
