external anatomy. FEET OP MELIPHAOA. 147 
is seen in one genus only, and that genus is at present 
represented but by a single species, the Oxyrhynchus cris- 
tatus, or crested sharp bill (fy. The strength of 
the whole foot, the shortness 
of the tarsi, and the broad 
ami well curved claws clearly 
show that this is an arboreal 
bird ; while the large sine of 
the hallux, which is fuUy 
equal in length both to the 
middle toe and to the tar- 
sus, is almost conclusive evidence of its being scan- 
sorial. If any other peculiarity of conformation was 
necessary to give support to this belief, it will be found 
in the acutely conic bill, which almost perfectly re- 
sembles that of Vunx. In other resirects the foot of 
Oxyrhynchiis is of the ordinary perching shape ; the 
lateral toes are equal, the middle toe is not much 
longer, and is united to the outer rather more than to 
the inner toe. 
( 127 .) The feet of the MeUphngida, or honey- 
suckers of Australia, are generally termed scansorial, 
although they possess only one of the characters belong- 
ing to this type, namely, a very strong and lengthened 
hind toe and claw, formed, however, as in ordinary 
perchers. In every other respect the foot would in- 
dicate (from the length of the tarsus) that these birds 
occasionally frequented the ground, although (from the 
inequality of the lateral toes) their chief residence was 
among trees: this latter supposition is confirmed by 
their habits; tbeir food, as already intimated (53.) 
consists of the nectar of the flowering trees of New 
Holland, which they lick with their brush-like tongue, 
together with such insects as frequent the same blos- 
soms. W e can readily fancy that in such situations the 
honey-suckers would often have occasion to assume those 
* Zool. must. i. pi, 49. 
L 2 
