How to See the British Museum in Four Visits | Page 8

large eyes, adapted to catch the
insects on which they feed. The varieties here collected, include the
great goatsucker; the goatsuckers of Europe, New Holland, North
America, and Africa; and the wedge-tailed goatsucker. The next case
(38) contains specimens of the varieties of Swallows and Swifts,
including those of North America; the esculent swallow of the Indian
Archipelago; and the sandmartin of Europe. In the two following cases
(39, 40) are grouped the varieties of the tody and broadbills, from the
West Indies, and Brazil; and the curncuis from the southern parts of
Asia and America. The visitor next arrives before two cases (41, 42) of
birds of brilliant plumage, suggestive of the regions where the
humming birds float in the air "like winged flowers." The kingfisher at
times startles the English pedestrian when he is sauntering near a
high-banked brook;--its gaudy plumage contrasts so forcibly with the
sober tints of our English song birds, that he is at first inclined to take
the gay fellow for a truant cage bird. But the fisher is quite at home,
and is probably diving for his fish dinner. The kingfishers grouped in
the two cases before which the visitor now stands, include specimens of
the Australian brown kingfisher; the green and great jacamars of South
America; the European bee eater; the Javan night bird; and the Ternate
kingfisher from the Philippine Islands. Having feasted his eyes upon
the gaudy colours of these feathered fishermen, the visitor will find in
the next case (43) the first specimens of the slender-beaked perching
birds. These slender beaks are divided into sub-families of Sun Birds;
Humming Birds; Honey Eaters; and the Creepers, &c. The sun birds
live upon the pollen of flowers. The specimens here grouped together,
include the numerous species of African and South American sun birds;
the paradise birds of Molucca; the promerops of New Guinea and
Africa; the Sandwich Islands honey eater; and the Australian rifle bird.

Next in order are grouped the famous American humming birds (44).
These brilliant little creatures, not larger than moths, are famed for their
beauty all over the world. The delicacy of their structure, the splendour
of the colours in which they are habited, their poetical diet, and the
impossibility of keeping them alive in a confined state, are the
attributes of delicacy and beauty which have made them objects of
interest to all persons who have any insight to the mysterious graces of
animal organisation. So brilliant is the plumage of some of the varieties,
that they have been named after gems: thus, in the case before which
the visitor has arrived, he will find the garnet-throated humming bird,
and the topaz humming bird. Next to these brilliant creatures of the
south, in case 45 are the curious Australian honey eaters, with their
feathered tongues, made to brush the sweet essences from flowers: and
the two following cases contain the remaining varieties of the
slender-beaked family. Here are the Creepers of Europe; the
Nuthatches of North America and Europe; varieties of the Wren; and
the Warblers of Guiana and Patagonia. The visitor next approaches the
varieties of the family known as the tooth-beaked perching birds. To
this family our choicest songsters belong. They fill five cases (48-52).
The visitor will observe in the first of the four cases, the tailor birds,
remarkable for the fantastic domes they form to their nests; the
Australian superb warbler; and the Dartford warbler of Europe. The
common song birds of Europe are grouped here, including blackcaps,
wrens, the active little titmice, together with the North American wood
warblers. Next to these are cases (53-55) of Thrushes, including the
tropical ant thrushes; the Javan mountain warbler; the Brazilian king
thrush; the rock thrushes: the imitative Australian thrush; the blackbird;
the North American mimic thrush; the Chinese and South American
thrushes, celebrated for their babbling; the yellow orioles, of Europe
and the east; and here also are the short-legged thrushes of the tropics.
The two next cases (56, 57) contain the Flycatchers, which catch
insects on the wing. The varieties to be seen here include the South
American pikas and shrikes, with their gay plumage. These
shrikes[2]--better known as butcher-birds--are so called from the
cruelty with which they treat their prey. In the second case of
flycatchers are grouped the true flycatchers, which are mostly from the
old world; those from America being the solitary flycatcher, the

black-headed flycatcher, the king and broad-billed tody, and the
white-eared thrush. In the two next cases (58, 59) are the families of the
Chatterers, with their resplendent plumage. In the first case, are groups
of the Asiatic and American thick-heads, and the gorgeous little
Manakins of South America and Australia. They are called after their
colours, as the speckled manakin, the white-capped South American
manakin, the purple-breasted,