14 



NECTARINTID^. 



I^ostrils bared, longitudinal, opcrculated. First primary short ; tip of 

 wing formed by 3rd, -ith, and 5th primaries. Tail much graduated, the 

 central feathers (in the male) generally projecting far beyond the 

 rest. Tarsus anteriorly coTcred with transverse scales ; claws very 

 short. Sexes differing greatly in coloration. Ill the male : sides 

 of the neck and of the head never metallic ; always some deep 

 non-metallic red in the plumage ; crown and tail always metallic ; 

 rump and lower back vivid yellow ; long fluffy feathers on the sides 

 of the back capable of covering the rump entirely. 



1. Tail oi^. hcUa. 2. Tail of ^. cItristmcB. 3. Tail o{ M. siparaja. 



Range. Indian and ^Malayan Regions. 



Key to iJie Sjjecies (males). 



A. Tail much graduated; central pair of feathers pro- 

 jecting. 

 a. Lower breast and abdomen greyish, never 

 brightly coloured. 

 a'. Fore neck and chest black ; upper throat 



metaUic blue ; mantle dark red saturafa, p. 15. 



b'. Throat, fore neck, and chest red. 



a". Tail-feathers scarlet; upper tail-coverts 



metaUic blue temtnincki, p. 16. 



h". Tail-feathers and upper tail-coverts me- 

 tallic. 

 a'". Mantle olive ; no moustachial stripe ; 



narrow blue band across throat .... eximia, p. 17. 

 b'". Mantle red ; blue metallic moustachial 

 stripe. 

 «■*. A few feathers near base of biU red . . ^nystacalis, p. 23. 

 h*. Whole forehead metallic blue-green. 

 a'. Lower breast and abdomen sooty 



black magnlfica, p. 24. 



¥. Lower breast and abdomen olive or 

 grey. 

 a". Upper tail-coverts and central 

 pair of tail-feathers rich green ; 

 blue metallic patch to ear- 

 coverts vigorsi, p. 18. 



