ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 
By PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER. 

IV.—ON THE GENUS DACNIS, Couvisr, 
WITH DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES. 
THE genus Dacnis forms a connecting link between Cereba and 
Conirostrum, which with Certhiola are the only genera included by 
Mr. Gray in his sub-family Correbine. To these I think must be 
added the genus Déglossa, as it appears more naturally placed here 
than among the Anabatine. M. De Lafresnaye observes, that these 
birds being furnished, like the Cerebine, with a bifid filamentous 
tongue, and feet in all respects similar to them, and being in the 
habit, according to M. D’Orbigny’s observations, of hanging about 
the twigs of trees to extract the insects from the pollen of the 
flowers, it appears indispensable to him to arrange them as true 
Cerebine, and he expresses much astonishment at Mr. Gray’s 
continuing to place them along with Anabates and the allied genera. 
Of the ten species given under the head of Cereba by Mr. Gray, 
I believe seven to be merely nominal, which will leave only three 
good species in this genus. These are Oereba cerulea and cyanea, 
the two common universally known “ black and blue creepers,’ * 
* From the following passage in Edwards’ “ Voyage up the river Amazon” (Mur- 
ray’s Home and Colonial Library), it would appear that the Linnzan writers who 
called these birds Certhie have some grounds to go upon, 
“the tree-ereepers were a more eagerly sought family, and two beautiful little 
species are quite common in the vicinity of Para. One of these is of a deep indigo 
blue, with a black throat, Certhia carulea ; the other, C. cayana, is conspicuous for 
the brilliant ultramarine blue that caps his head; otherwise he is marked with blue 
and black and yellow, These little things are usually seen running up and down the 
tree trunks, or flitting hurriedly from branch to branch, busied in searching for 
insects upon the bark. They are extremely familiar and allow of near approach. 
At intervals they emit slight whispering notes, but their anxious haste leaves one 
with the impression that they might do themselves much more credit as songsters at 
their leisure. We never fell in with these species up the river, their place there 
being supplied by other varieties.” Pp. 57-8. 
105-11 
