252 TlMEHRI. 
bone which is raised from the toes above ground, a bone 
which is usually not covered with feathers and is known 
commonly as the " leg" of the bird, though really it is 
part of the foot, the leg bones being usually quite hidden 
by feathers. There are never more than four toes in 
any wild bird, the outermost or little toe being always 
absent. The toe corresponding to the great-toe, is 
almost invariably turned backwards, while the other 
three toes are turned forwards. The great toe consists 
of two joints, the second toe of three, the third toe of 
four and the fourth or outer toe of five joints. By 
counting the joints of the toes it is easy to tell which 
toes are turned forwards and which backwards ; thus in 
the parrots the first and fourth toes are turned back- 
wards, while in the trogons the first and second are thus 
directed. 
, Of the large order Picarise, very many forms are 
shewn. Of the family of the humming-birds (Trochilidce) , 
there are some very beautiful specimens — one, a magni- 
ficent king humming-bird (Topaza pella) in the upper 
part of the case, by the window, opposite the fruit models, 
being particularly worthy of being inspe6led. Other 
examples of these birds are shewn mounted in a small 
case in the middle of the room, while a very large 
number of species of many shapes and sizes, chiefly 
of colonial forms colle6led by the celebrated traveller 
and bird colle6lor, Mr. Henry Whitely, is shewn 
in the flat case (4). The humming-birds form a 
well-marked family. The bill is thin, generally much 
produced and often curved. The tongue is rounded 
and bifid at the extremity, and extremely extensile, as in 
the woodpecker, and, as in that type, is worked by 
