. The animal kingdom, arranged after its organization, forming a natural history of animals, and an introduction to comparative anatomy. Zoology. PASSERINE. 207 The name Guit-guit is applied to certain small species, the males of which have vivid colours. Their tongue is bifid and filamentous. Certhia ci/anea, Tern., and C. can-idea, Edwards, are American examples, to which we add some eastern species, most of which are red,—the Ccereba, Vieillot. We may separate, however, the largest and least handsome of them, wherein the tongue is short and cartila- ginous ; as the Merops rufus of Spix, whi
. The animal kingdom, arranged after its organization, forming a natural history of animals, and an introduction to comparative anatomy. Zoology. PASSERINE. 207 The name Guit-guit is applied to certain small species, the males of which have vivid colours. Their tongue is bifid and filamentous. Certhia ci/anea, Tern., and C. can-idea, Edwards, are American examples, to which we add some eastern species, most of which are red,—the Ccereba, Vieillot. We may separate, however, the largest and least handsome of them, wherein the tongue is short and cartila- ginous ; as the Merops rufus of Spix, which constructs a nest upon shrubs, arched over like an oven, and of which M. Temminck forms his genus Opetiorhynchus, and M. Vieillot his Furnaritu. The Figulut of Spix does not differ. , Cuv. The members of this group also do not climb, nor employ the tail: their arched and pointed beak, longer than the head, is depressed and widened at its base. They inhabit the East Indies, are very small, and have generally some scarlet on their plumage. In Melithreptus, Vieillot,— The tail is also not used, and the beak is extremely elongated, and curved almost to a semicircle. They inhabit the South-sea Islands. One species (Certhia vestiaria, Shaw) is covered with scarlet feathers, of which the natives of the Sandwich Isles manufacture the beautiful mantles of that colour, which are so highly prized. The Sun-birds (Cinnyris, Cuv.)— Do not lean on the tail; the edges of their long and very slender beak are finely serrated ; the tongue, which is capable of protrusion, terminates in a little fork. They are small birds, the males of which have most brilliant metallic colours during the season of propagation, approaching the Humming- birds in beauty ; of which, in this respect, they are the representatives in the Eastern Continent, being found principally in Africa and the Indian Archipelago. They subsist on the nectar of flowers, which they suck up ; are of a lively disposition,
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1854
