THE Sl'I^NDID SU.N-iilRl). 287 



among- thick bushes, and form it of the down of plants, covering it externally with 

 lichens or fine mosses.* Of the nest of an Indian species Dr. Latham thus writes, upon 

 the authority of General Hardwicke : " The nest, composed of tine downy materials 

 mixed with a few dead leaves, is in shape nearly globular, about three inches in diameter, 

 and at bottom runs to a point at least four inches bcj-ond it ; the entrance at the top, and 

 on one side, next to the brancli to which it is attached, has a kind of head or cover over 

 the entrance." In most cases where -we have any notice of them, the eggs are described 

 as of a pale colour, bluish-gray, or reddish, with brown or greenish spots ; in the hum- 

 ming-birds they are generally white. The nest of the N'. Goalpavciuk is represented by 

 Professor Royle as suspended, and having the hole or entrance near the upper part, the 

 materials of which it is constructed being rather coarse. From these descriptions 

 the character of the nests of the Indian species partakes more of those of the Artliotomi 

 and tt\.ilor-warblers. ilr. Jerdon writes of the C. Jla/ii-nffciisis : " I have seen the 

 nest of this pretty little bird close to a house at Jaulnah. It was commenced on a 

 thick spider's web, by attaching to it various fragments of jpaper, cloth, straw, grass, 

 and other substances, till it had secured a firm hold of the twigs to which the web 

 adhered, and the nest suspended oil this was then com2:)lcted. bj'' adding other fragments 

 of the same materials ; the hole is at the one side near the top, and has a slight 

 projecting roof or awning over it." 



THE SPLEXDIO SUN-UIRD.f 



This is a large species, and certainly, when the male is seen in his full breeding-dress, 

 one of the most gorgeously-dressed of the whole tribe. Lo Yaillant found tliis bird in 

 the coimtry of the Great jVamaqua, near the Fish River, but only during the season of 

 incubation ; so that it is probable that a more western locality may be its true and con- 

 tinuous habitation. It is introduced by Mr. Swainson iu his " Birds of Western Africa," 

 and specimens have been received, by the attention of Dr. W. Fergusson, from the 

 vicinity of Sierra Leone. In the country of the Namaquas, the nest was placed in the 

 worm-eaten trunks of mimosa trees, and contained from four to five entirely white eggs. 



The total length of the adult male, measured from tSierra Leone specimens, is from 

 five inches and a-half to live and three-quarters, being nearly an inch longer than the 

 measurement given bj' Mr. Swainson. The back of the neck, back, shoulders, and upper 

 and under tail-coverts, are brilliant golden-green, varying with every change of light ; 

 the head and throat are steel-blue, in some lights appearing as black, in others as rich 

 violet ; across the breast there apjoears in most lights a band of scarlet, but in some 

 positions it appears as if banded with steel-blue, golden-green, or violet, and at times to 

 be almost entirely composed of one of these tints : this is occasioned by the structure of 

 the feathers ; near the base the colour is of the metallic tints alluded to, but the tips of 

 the plumules are lengthened into fine vermilion tips without barbs, which are so slender 

 as sometimes to be entirely lost when seen against the dark tint of the feather laying 

 beneath. On the sides of this beautiful bird spring two auxiliary tufts of pale lemon 

 colour. The breast, bell}', and flanks, wings and tail, are deep black, the latter edged 

 with golden-green. In this species also the tail-coverts are of an unusual form, very 

 nearly as long as the feathers of the tail, the webs very ample, loose, and unconnected. 

 The legs, feet, and bill are black. The female, according to Le Yaillant, is entirely of 

 an " earthy brown," paler beneath, tinted with olive on the wings and tail, the last 

 ha%-ing the lateral feathers bordered exteriorly with dirty white ; the bill and feet 

 blackish brown. The young resemble the female. 



* Vaillant, S. Oraiiga. f Nectariiiia Splciidicla.— Sliav,-. 



