THE FIERY-TAILED SUN-BIRD. 



151 



in the sun's rays, as if conscious of the fascination which his brilliant costume must exert 

 upon the susceptible hearts of the gentler sex. 



The Sun-birds usually make their nests in the hollows of decaying trees, or within the 

 centre of thick brushwood. In many cases the nest is concealed with great care ; and in some 

 instances is constructed with consummate art. The material of the nest is generally composed 

 of very fine fibres, interwoven and lined with the soft cottony down that is found in the seed 

 vessels of many plants, and ingeniously set round with various lichens, so as to give it a close 

 resemblance to the tree in which it is placed. One species has even been known to make 

 a thick spider's web the foundation of its nest, and to cover it so completely with little bits of 

 moss, lichens, paper, cloth, and all kinds of miscellaneous substances, as to destroy its nest- 

 like appearance, and make it look like a chance bundle of scraps entangled in the branches. 



When taken young, the Sun-birds are very susceptible to human influence, rapidly 

 becoming tame, and learning to fly about the room and take their food from the hand of their 

 owners with charming familiarity. 

 It has already been mentioned that 

 the Sun-bird utters a shrill, sharp 

 whistle, while engaged in seeking 

 food. This, however, is not their 

 only cry, as many of them possess 

 considerable musical powers, their 

 cry, although feeble, being sweet 

 and agreeably undulated. It is 

 thought by many observers that 

 the Sun-birds, while flitting from 

 flower to flower, aid in the work 

 which is so efficiently carried out 

 by bees and similar insects, and 

 help to carry the fructifying pollen 

 from one blossom to another. 



AMONG these birds the FIERY- 

 TAILED SUN-BIRD, although not the 

 largest, is yet one of the most 

 striking and beautiful in form and 

 color. 



This most lovely little creature 

 is an inhabitant of India, being 

 found near the foot of the Hima- 

 laya mountains, and most plenti- 

 fully near Nepal. In dimensions 

 it is extremely small, owing to the 

 great difference which exists, even 

 in adult males, in the length of the 

 central feathers of the tail, the 



disparity often amounting to two inches, so that the length of the bird may be from three to 

 five and a half inches. The forehead and the top of the head are brilliant steel-blue, and the 

 neck, the back, and the upper tail-coverts are the most beautiful scarlet vermillion, diversified 

 by a broad patch of bright yellow upon the bend of the back. The two long central feathers 

 of the tail are also bright vermillion and "the side feathers are brown, edged with the same 

 brilliant hue. The upper surface of the wings is olive-brown, each feather being brown and edged 

 with olive ; the under surface of the wing is grayish white, worked here and there with very pale 

 brown. The breast is beautiful gold-yellow, with a wash of crimson in the centre ; and the abdo- 

 men, and remainder of the under parts, are rather pale olive-green. The bill is blackish-brown 



Before and after the breeding season the Fiery-tailed Sun-bird assumes a more sober 



FIEBY-TAILBD SON-BIRD. Nectarinla melalllca. 



