NECTARINIA, Illig. Tem. NECTAR SUCKER.
pill long, or as long as the head, and more or less curved, widened and depressed at the base, trigonal, compressed, and very slender at the point ; tongue long, extensile, tubular, and bifid ; nostrils near the base, lateral, closed above by a large naked membrane ; the third and fourth quills the longest. The species, which are pretty numerous, are all exotic : Some of them are of small dimensions and brilliant hues, and others are larger. They have their designation from sipping the sweet juice of flowers.
cyanea. Certhia cyanea, Lin. Coereba-cyanea, Cyanean Nectar-sucker. or Cyanean-creeper. Deep blue, with beryl-coloured crown, black wings and tail, and yel low under coverts. This elegant little bird, which is more minutely described by Edwards, measures about four inches and a quarter, is a native of South America, particularly of Brazil and Cayenne. The female is said to differ in having the insides of the wings yellowish-grey, and the young males are at first greenish above, except on the wings and tail, and of a paler or yellowish cast beneath. They afterwards become varied, or patched with black, blue, and green, with a mixture of rufous on some parts We notice these differences, beerm.e ny somewriters t hey have been stated as so many varieties or species.
rufa, fl/crops rujas. Lath. nrnarius rufus, Rufous Nectar-sucker, or Rufous Bee-eater above, with brown quill feathers, rufous on the edges. The throat. fore part of the neck, breast, and belly, are of a beautiful white. Length seven inches two lines This species, which is a native of South America, readily fre quents cultivated fields, and approaches small towns, vil lages, and hamlets, preferably breeding near houses, and sometimes within them. Though they reside in bushes and thickets, they conic abroad into the open fields, never penetrating into extensive woods nor haunting elevated situations. They associate in pairs, and are not observed in families or flocks. As their wings are somewhat short, and far from strong, they fly to a little distance at a time. They always build their nest in some open situation, as on a large leafless branch of a tree, or on the window of a house, or on a paling or stake at several feet from the ground. The nest, which is shaped like a baker's oven, is constructed of mud or clay, and is sometimes completed in two days, the male and female jointly working, each fetching in turn a pellet of the materials of the size of a hazel nut, which they arrange and adjust into a fabric, six inches and a half in diameter, with the opening on the side twice as high as broad. The interior is divided into two
parts by a partition, which begins at the side of the en trance, and terminates circularly, so as to leave a passage into a sort of chamber, in which, on a lid of grass, are de posited four white eggs, dotted with rufous, and somewhat pointed at the narrow end. The same nests, if not de stroyed by the rain, will serve the same pair for more than one season ; and if they find it occupied by a bird of ano ther species, which sometimes happens, they generally succeed in expelling the usurper. Azara notices a tame individual of this species which was allowed to go at large, and, when hungry, would eat pounded maize, but always preferred raw meat ; and if the bit was too big to be swallowed at once, it would press it on the ground with its foot, and tear it with its bill Its walk was alternately grave and majestic, and quick and precipitate, with the head and neck erect. When it sung, it stretched out its body, lengthened its neck, and beat its wings The note, which is common to both sexes, and is continued all the year round, consists in the loud and frequent repetition of the syllable eher, at first uttered at intervals, and then pro nounced pretty smartly, until it forms a continuous bur den or cadence, which is heard at the distance of half a mile X sannio, Certhia sannio, Lath. Melithre/itus sannio, Vieill. MockIng Nectar-sucker or Creeper Olive, with the wings and slightly forked tail brown Bill black, and legs lead-colour Size of the thrush, length about eight inches and a half Native of New Holland It is report ed to have a fine note, and to acquire with great facility those of other birds So remarkable too is its propensity to vary its song, that, when in hearing of it, a person is apt to suppose that he is surrounded by many birds of dif ferent species. The crown of the head has often a purple tint, occasioned by thrusting it against the stamina of cer tain flowers, of which it extracts the sweets.