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The HONEYSUCKERS (_Nectarinia_). These are small and
delicately-constructed birds, adorned with plumage of the most brilliant
hues; their body is compact, their beak thin, slightly curved, and
sharply pointed. The moderately long wing contains ten primary quills.
The formation of the tail is very varied, being either straight, rounded,
or wedge-shaped at its extremity; its two centre feathers occasionally
extend considerably beyond the rest. The tongue is long, very protrusible,
and divided at its tip; the feet are high, and the toes slender. The
coloration of the plumage varies not only in the two sexes, but also at
different seasons; the feathers are moulted twice in the year, and only
exhibit their gay tints during the period of incubation; towards the end
of the season the males are clad in the same sombre hues that belong to
the females and young. The Honeysuckers inhabit the whole of Africa,
Asia, and Oceania, the first-mentioned continent being especially rich
in species. Everywhere their glowing colours entitle them to be regarded
as the most striking ornaments of the woods, groves, or gardens they
inhabit, whilst their intelligence renders the study of their habits
extremely interesting. During the greatest part of the year they live in
pairs, which occasionally associate into small parties during the breeding
season. The nests of the Honeysuckers are constructed with great skill,
and are usually suspended from thin branches or twigs. The eggs, which are
few in number, are of a pure white.