Order II. PASSERES. 
Tribe IY. Conirostres. 
The fifth Family, 
COLIDiE, or Colies, 
have the Bill moderate, with the cultnen elevated at the base, and the sides compressed to the tip, which 
is acute; the Nostrils placed in the middle of a large membranous groove, with the opening small and 
exposed : the Wings short : the Tail much lengthened and graduated : the Tarsi robust, and the Toes 
lengthened, the outer as long as the inner, the hind toe moderate, united at the base of the inner toe, 
and directed forwards. 
The only Subfamily, 
COLINriE, or Colies, 
has the characters given above. 
Colius Bt'iss .* 
Bill moderate, broad, and elevated at the base, with the culmen arched, and the sides compressed to 
tbe tip, which is acute ; the lateral margins sinuated ; the gonys short and slightly ascending , the 
n °strils placed in a short, broad, membranous groove, with the opening small and exposed. Wings 
m °derate, with the first quill long, the second to the fourth nearly equal and longest. Tail much 
I’Xigthened and graduated, with the feathers narrowed throughout. Tarsi as long as the middle toe, 
rob ust, and covered with broad scales. Toes rather long, the lateral toes equal, the hind moderate, 
Ur dted at the base of the inner toe, and directed forwards ; the claws long, cuived, and veij acute. 
The birds of this genus are peculiar to the continent of Africa, where they are usually observed in P a 
^ rees > among the branches of which they are seen quickly hopping from one to anothei in &eaic o tie c _ ^ 
01 ’med buds, on which they subsist. Their flight consists of little more than flitting fiom one tree to anot e , y 
la ve a peculiar habit of suspending themselves by one foot attached to the branch, with the icat lan^in^ cownwar s. 
hey are rare ]„ 0 |3 Servc d on the ground, as the formation of their foot does not admit of their v, a wi i ease y 
!° rtri their nests in society, closely packed together on the same tree or bush, and composed of flexible twigs lined with 
a thers, the female depositing from four to six eggs. 
* Established by Brisson in 1760 ( Ornithologie , iii. p. 304.). 
