FLOOE.] 
EASTERN ZOOLOGICAL GALLEEY. 
9 
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 tenuirostral 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 of the New World, which have been 
named " flying gems," 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, while in others it is curiously turned up. The rac- 
quet-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 
Menura of Australia, the largest of song birds ; 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 Thrashes, 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 temperate 
parts of the world, and are famed for their powers of song. Cases 56, 
57. The Flycatchers, so named from their feeding on insects which 
they capture when flying. The Tyrants of North and South America 
pursue and catch small birds, as well as insects. One of the most 
curious is the King Tody of South America, with a finely-coloured 
and peculiar radiated crest on its head. Cases 58, 59. The Chatterers; 
many of these are of beautiful plumage and feed on berries and insects ; 
remarkable among them is the white Chatterer, called the Carapanero, 
or Bell-bird, from its note at mid-day in the American forests resem- 
bling the convent bell. Case 59-61. Shrikes and Butcher birds; 
many of these impale insects and small birds on thorns, and hence 
