54 C.P.O.S. Show. 



Pauvvpls is to bo rnngratulaterl on so uniquo a possession. It 

 carried ofl' premier honours and a special. 



The Purple Sun-Bird (Arachnecthra asiatica): A perfect 

 specimen of this unique feathered gem was staged by Mr. C. T. 

 Maxwell, and he certainly deserves every credit fur successfully 

 moulting it; the species now lieing seen in full nuptial dress for 

 the first time as a living bird — out of colour it was exhibited 

 at the recent L.C.B.A. Show at the Horticultui'al Ffall. Space 

 will not pcrniit me to linger as I fain would do, and it is almost 

 impossible to describe its iridescent i)lumagc by pen painting, (u- 

 for that matter by Inrush eitlier. The best description 1 'ia\(' yet 

 .seen is from the pm nf our esteemed member I). Dcwar. and 

 I here (luote it in full, from his interesting book " iJinis of the 

 Plains." "Of the fiKd-;s of the lii'st and second species (A. lolcus 

 " and (isiulicit) it may perhaps be s.iid that tliey are (dothed in 

 "purple and tine linmi, for their plumage is a deep, idrh luu'ple 

 " Avith a slieen and a. gloss like that on a brand-iu'w silk hat. 

 " Sometimes the bii-d looks Idack, at others gri'cn, and nnrc fi-e- 

 " quently mauve, according to the intensil\' of the li,i;ht and the 

 " angle at which the sun's rays fall upiin it . . .If the cmd^s of above 

 "are clothed in pvu'ple and line linen, that of th;.- yellow spe.des 

 ''(A. zeylonica) may be said tn be arrayed in a enat (if -many 

 "colours, each of which is so beautiful as t) did'y imitalimi l)y the 

 " painter. Thei'e is a pat(/h on the ernwn, which appears nr'tallic 

 "lilac in some lights, and emei'ald-.ureen in (dhers. Mis neek and 

 " uppei' back are dull ciinrs;))!, the l-iwcr baek, chin, and thr: at 

 "are brilliant metallic pui'ple. Tin- tail and wing /eathers are 

 "dark brown. There is a maroon colhii' below the thi'oat and 

 " the plumage from this collar doAvnwards is blight yellow. Verily, 

 " Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." 



Those who had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Maxwell's bril- 

 liant gem will I am sure agree with me that the above 

 is not too laudatory. 



Their diet in captivity is similar to that of tiie Sugar-birds; 

 ripe fruit, such as sweet grajx's, banana, etc., milk sop sweetened 

 with honey and a few small insects. Some give a little pure 

 honey as Avell. Tlieii' food in a. state of nature consists (jf the 

 nectar of flowers ami minute inseid life. Awai'ded pi-emier honours 

 and three specials. 



f*]vEKiTT's J',\i!i;()T (Tail >/(j 11(1 Ihiis crcriUi): .Vnolhei' unii|ne 

 .spicidineii whiidi 1 Ixdieve has not been exhibited before, I)ut as 

 this spit'cies was only recently described by its foi'tunate owner, 

 tlv R/'v. G. Id. Raynor, T must refer readei's to January issue 

 (■f Bird Nofes, cui rent volume. 



Black-tiikoatkij Haxomost (Iclcrvs uickovicUis): .\ line 

 sp'3c',men cf this uncommon species, which I akso beli(-ve to be a first 

 appearance, was shown I'y cur esteemed member Mi'. S. M. Tnvnsend. 

 .^.11 the Hangnests are beauliful and stikin';;' birds, full of c'-iai-act-'i', ani 



