67 
Table XXIL (See vol. i., p. 16.) 
Order 2. Passerine. Tribe 7* Tenuirostres. 
The birds of this tribe, comprehending the rest of 
this division, are classed together, not so much with 
reference to the actual strength or weakness of the 
hill, as on account of its form and comparative 
narrowness and length, which is seldom less than 
twice that of the head, sometimes straight, at other 
times more or less bent. In other respects, they 
differ very materially ; in fact, they have no connexion 
whatever with each other. Amongst them we find, 
of foreigners, the Humming-birds, and the genus 
Todus, much resembling Kingfishers, but feeding on 
insects instead of fish. Some species of the rest are 
British, such as the Hoopoe and Bee-eaters ; both 
of which are, however, very scarce. 
In walking through woods, a rapping sort of noise 
may be frequently heard high up in trees; and 
though the hearer feels pretty confident that he is 
within a few yards of the spot from whence this 
rap, rap, rap, proceeds, he may fail in finding out 
the cause. But if he has a keen eye, he may at last 
perceive a small grayish blue-backed bird, with a 
yellowish breast, busily employed, knocking away 
with the full force of its head, beak, and body, as 
if the whole were one solid mass, moving on the 
hinges of its thigh-bones. After a while, the bird 
will be seen to glide, rather than climb, up, or round 
the stem, and disappear — till it is again detected by 
a repetition of the rap, rap, rap. It is the Nuthatch, 
in the act of examining trees for insects, or engaged 
F 2 
