Cases 18 to 25

contain the Passerine birds, or Perchers. In Case 18 are the Sockers (Meliphagidœ) which are found principally in Australia. They have a brush at the end of the tongue for taking the nectar out of flowers. The Sun Birds (Promeropdœ) represent in the Old World the Humming Birds of America. Promerops nipalensis, and l. saturata, are beautiful species. The Swallows [unclear: the]) are also in this case. Although externally

page 18

very like the Swifts (Case 13), their anatomy shows them to be very different. The Wire-tailed Swallow ([unclear: Horinfilifera)] has the two outer feathers of the tail much elongated.

The principal bird in Case 19 is the Lyre-bird ([unclear: Memory] superba), so called from the shape of the tail in the male. Although so large, it is allied to the Wren ([unclear: Trog] parvulus), which is in the same case. Here we have the soft-billed Warblers (Luscinidœ), including the Nightangale (Luscinia philomela) and the English Robin (Erythacus rubecula), and the beautiful Superb [unclear: Warb] (Malurus) of Australia. In Case 20 are the Tits ([unclear: Pear] the Wagtails (Motacilla), and the Thrushes ([unclear: Turkey]) Also, the celebrated Bulbul (Pycnotus pygœus), several kinds of Green Bulbuls (Phyllornis).

In Case 21 are the King Crows (Dicrurus), the Swallows (Artamus), the gorgeously coloured Group Thrushes (Pitta), the Bower Birds (Ptilonorhynchine) the Orioles (Oriolus), chiefly of a yellow colour, and Flycatchers (Muscicapidœ), of which the [unclear: Pari] Fly-catcher. (Tchitrea paradisi) is the most remark! In this bird there is a remarkable difference in color between the adult and the young, for while the former has the greater part of the body white, in the latter is the light chesnut. The Caterpillar Catchers ([unclear: Cor] phaga) are closely allied to the Fly-catchers, the [unclear: best] Minivet (Pericrocotus) connecting the two groups.

In Case 22 we have the Cock of the Rocks ([unclear: Raycrocea),] so called from its habit of scratching up the and flapping its wings, like the domestic cock, The Manakins (Pipra munacus and P. militaris), the Bobsmian Wax-wing (Ampelis garrulus), or Chatterer, as called from its never being silent, except when the Diamond Sparrows (Pardalotus) of Australia, the Butcher Birds (Laniidœ). These latter get the name from the habit, which some have, of impaling insects on thorns, until they want them to eat.

Case 23 contains the Crows (Corvidœ). Among [unclear: others] we have the Jay (Garrulus glandarius), the [unclear: Nutra] (Nucifraga caryocatcictes), the Magpie (Pica caudata) Raven (Corvus corax), and the Chough (Coracia [unclear: Coracia] lus.)

Case 24 contains three species of Birds of Paradise the Lesser Bird of Paradise (Paradisea minor), the king page 19 Bird of Paradise (Cicinnurus regia), and the Magnificent Bird of Paradise (Diphyllodes speciosa). It will be noticed how plain the females of these birds are, and how closely they resemble each oilier, as well as the female of the Rifle Bird (Case 14). The same Case contains the Grackles or Mynas, and Starlings (Sturnidœ). Case 15 contains the thick-billed, seed-eating birds, generally known as Finches. The most interesting are the Weaver Bird (Ploceus manyar) of India—it builds its best of strips of leaves or grass, woven together; the Java Sparrow (Padda oryzivora), exceedingly destructive to grain crops; and the Cross Bill (Loxia curvirostra), which uses its peculiar bill for stripping the cones of pine

Case 26 contains the Pigeons. We can only call attentions to the curious Tooth-billed Pigeon (Didunculus [unclear: outris]), the nearest ally to the now extinct Dodo; the Crowned Pigeon (Goura victorœ), the Nicobar Pigeon (Calœnas nicobarica), the beautiful Orange Dove (Chrysœna victor), and the Green Doves (Ptilinopus), the Walted Fruit Pigeons (Carpophaga pacifca and C. [unclear: ura]), the White Fruit Pigeon (Carpophaga lucadi) the Crested Pigeon (Lopholœmus antarcticus), and the Pheasant Tailed Pigeon (Macropygia phasiandia) Cases 27 to 34 contain the collection of New Zealand Birds.