Qrder II, 
passeres. 
Tribe II. Tenuirostres. 
^ le * 0Ul 'tb Famil 
■y» 
MELIPHAGIDiE, or Honey-eaters, 
h; 
th. 
’"' e the BiU 
e K< 
more or less long, curved, and usually acute at the tip, which is slightly emarginated ; 
derate, 
s tiils placed in a large groove, and generally covered with a membranous scale; the Wings 
stroi ’ anc ^ the first three quills graduated ; the Tail long and broad ; the Tarsi rather short and 
’ an< ^ the Toes more or less long, the outer always united at its base. The Tongue is extensile, 
ail <* fur 
Wished at the tip with a pencil of short slender fibr 
■es. 
The 
first Subfamily, 
MYZOMELINiE, or Honey-creepers, 
ht 
ay e th e B li 
tostrip. U1 m ° re ° r ^ ess ^ ori 8’ slender, curved, and acute at the tip, which is slightly emarginated ; the 
aricj f 0 asa ^’ an d the opening covered by a membranous scale ; the Wings rather short, with the third 
the 0i ; th usuall y the longest ; the Tail short and even ; the Tarsi short ; and the Toes moderate, 
toe longer than the inner, and united at the base. 
% ,, 
Myzomela Fig. fy Horsf* 
<; Uhr 
(j etl _ ' on S> curved, broad at the base, and gradually compressed to the tip, which is acute ; the 
u rath ° j *■ 
°bli que ei heeled, and the gonys long and curved ; the nostrils basal, with the opening linear, 
ra thei> s p Cov ered by a membranous scale. Wings moderate, with the first quill short, the second 
' l,1 ar, r ; 1 t(Jl than the third and fourth, which are equal and longest. Tail rather short and 
o or , • l * 
O'ont y. 1 arsi slender, rather shorter than the middle toe, and covered with transverse scales m 
htSf. . , S Moderate and slender, with the outer toe rather longer than the inner, and united at 
’ the hind ^ ’ - 
its 
Tho 
toe long, and rather strong : the claws long, compressed, and acute. 
s l>eci, 
t| • s °f a'hi ^ enus are found in Australia and in the Island of Tanna, frequenting various plants, from the 
fol; ao . n , ' tt Je y collect the nectar, but principally the small insects that are found in them, as well as on the 
fr, 
f 1,1 t’UUich t ,' l !U1c ^ ICS ‘ They possess great activity ; and are continually moving from dower to flower, as well as 
^ a . ranc h, in search of their subsistence. At times they are seen perched on a dead branch, pouring 
1 aintive note. The nest is composed of grasses, wherein the female deposits two eggs. 
' *8ors 
and D r a 
orsfield established this genus in 1 826 ( Linn. Trans, xv. p. 3 1 6. ). Phylidonyris of M. Lesson ( 1 83 1 ) is synonymous. 
