Indian Birds 



with yellow under parts, but the cocks wear a 

 gay livery. They build large hanging nests, 

 composed of dried grass, leaves, etc., held 

 together by cobweb, so that they look, from a 

 little distance, like hanging masses of rubbish. 

 Close inspection shows that the nest is pear- 

 shaped, with a circular entrance at one side 

 and a little porch over the entrance. The 

 nests are found in gardens, being sometimes 

 suspended from the roof of the verandah. 



These birds feed largely on the nectar of 

 flowers, which they abstract by means of their 

 long tubular tongues. In order to obtain the 

 honey they frequently hover on rapidly-vibrat- 

 ing wings, like humming birds. 



1 06. Arachnechthra lotenia : Loten's Sun- 

 bird. (F.894),(J.23S),(-I.) 



Cock : The whole plumage is dark metallic 

 purple, looking black in some lights, but in the 

 sun's rays it displays a green or lilac sheen. The 

 beak is long and curved. 



Hen : Upper plumage earthy brown, lower 

 plumage very pale yellow. 



Found only in S. India. Very common in 

 Madras. (Illus. B. P., pp. 78, 82, and 90.) 



107. Arachnechthra asiatica : The Purple 



Sunbird. (F. 895), a-234)>(-I-) 

 152 



