FLOOE.] 
EASTERN ZOOLOGICAL GALLERY. 
9 
young is used in cookery. The Leona Goatsucker of West Africa, 
'with very long feathers appended to its wings, so that it looks like 
three birds when it flies. Case 38 contains the Swallows and Swifts, 
which pursue flies on the wing; their wings and tail are very long, 
their legs very short. The Esculent Swallow constructs its nest of a 
substance which when dissolved in soups is esteemed a great luxury 
in China and elsewhere in the East. Case 39. The Todies, Rollers, 
Broadbills, and Motmots, living chiefly on insects and fruits ; the 
plumage of many of these is very showy. Case 40. The Trogons, living 
in low damp woods in the tropics, particularly of the New World ; one 
of the most conspicuous is the long-feathered Quezal, a sacred bird 
among the ancient Peruvians. Cases 41, 42. The Kingfishers, large- 
billed birds with short tails, living on fish ; they are generally of bright 
plumage. One of the largest and most sombre-coloured is the Laugh- 
ing Kingfisher of Australia, which lives on snakes and reptiles ; the 
colonists call it the Jackass, from its loud and singular note. Among 
the Teuuirostral Birds may be noticed the Hoopoes and Sunbirds of 
Africa and Asia ; the latter have brilliant metallic plumage, and have 
often been taken for Humming-birds ; they feed on the nectar of 
flowers and on insects which they find in the tubes of flowers. Case 44 
contains the Humming-birds, which have been named " flying gems ; " 
they are peculiar to America. The males are of the most resplendent 
colours. Among the finest may be mentioned the topaz, garnet-throated, 
and tufted-necked Humming-birds. The beak in some of the species 
is of enormous length, in most it is straight or bent down, in a few it 
is turned up. The racquet-tailed Humming-bird is a singular species. 
Their food is minute insects and the honey of flowers. They fly with 
a humming noise, and never settle on the ground. 
Case 45. The Honey-eaters, peculiar to Australia and New Zealand. 
They have curiously-feathered tongues, which assist them in sipping 
their food. Cases 46, 47. The Creepers, Nuthatches, and Wrens, most 
of which can creep up trees, their long hind claws taking a firm grasp 
of any inequality in the bark. The Nuthatches have great strength 
in the beak, in this respect resembling Woodpeckers, and, like them, 
tapping on trees. Cases 48-61. The tooth-billed Passerine Birds 
feed chiefly on insects and grubs. Case 48. The Tailor-birds, forming 
curious nests of leaves and grass, which they stitch together ; the 
superb warblers and Emu Wren of Australia, and the Lyre-bird or 
Menuraof Australia, the largest of song birds. Case 49. The Warblers, 
birds of plain plumage, but famed for their agreeable song ; the Black- 
cap and Nightingale are placed here. Case 50. The Wheatears and 
Titmice ; the latter are very active in flitting from branch to branch 
and suspending themselves in all kinds of attitudes whilst seeking for 
insects on trees. Case 51. The American Wood Warblers. Cases 
53-55. The Thrushes: some of these have long legs and short tails, 
such as the tropical Ant-Thrushes ; many have brilliant plumage ; 
others of more sombre plumage inhabit Europe and the tempi rate 
parts of the world, and are famed for their powers of song. Case- 56, 
57. The Flycatchers, so named from their feeding on insects which 
