158 
INTRODUCTION. 
is present, even more boldly developed ; but these 
do take insects as food, and when better known, the 
species which possess the dentation may and will 
be found to vary very considerably in their manner 
of feeding. 
In these observations, we are borne out by the 
remarks of a recent traveller and indefatigable 
observer ; Dr. Smith tells us, in his Zoology of 
Southern Africa, “ The birds of the genus Cin- 
nyris have generally been regarded as feeding 
upon the saccharine juices which exist in flowers ; 
but as far as my experience goes, I should be in- 
clined to consider them as giving a preference to 
insects. In those I examined, I found the bulk 
of the contents of the stomach to be insects, though 
at the same time each contained more or less of a 
saccharine juice. The acquisition of a certain por- 
tion of the latter is not easily to be avoided, con- 
sidering the manner they insert their bills into 
flowers, but the consumption of insects of a size 
such as I have found in their stomachs, must easily 
be obviated, provided these were not agreeable to 
their palates, and not actually a description of food 
which they by choice selected.” 
We find many of the species also frequenting a 
particular genus of plants, and even particular spe- 
cies. The Proteas are in Africa general favourites. 
Vaillant's Sucrier Figuer frequents a species of 
scentless jessamine,* and these will no doubt be 
the resorts of peculiar groups of insects, affording a 
* VaiU., vi. 159. 
