3G0 BIRDS .OF INDIA. 



or short-billed Flower-peckers, from Asia and Australia ; 5th, 

 Ccerebince from America. They approximate some of the Aus- 

 tralian Honey-eaters, through Myzomela and other forms, and ' 

 perhaps join the Pardaloti through such birds as Smicrornis, if 

 this be really different from Piprisoma. 



Sub-fara. NECTARTNINiE. 



The NectarinincB or Sun-birds of India and Africa comprise a 



lar^e number of mostly very beautiful birds, wliich, in the brilliancy 



of their hues, and the general style of coloration, quite remind 



one of the Humming-birds, and they are popularly known in India 



as Humming-birds. They are divided into several genera, which 



vary in the length of bill, strength of feet, and mode of coloration. 



The first on the list have plain colors, and the bill greatly 



lengthened. 



Gen. Arachnothera, Temm. 



Char. — Bill very long, moderately curved ; base broad and some- 

 what three-sided; tip entire ; nostrils small, oval, completely covered 

 by a membrane, which only opens by a lateral slit ; wings long ; 

 3rd and 4th longest ; tail short, broad, even ; legs large and strong ; 

 lateral toes slightly unequal ; hind-toe and claw large. 



These birds are clothed in sombre plumage, generally green or 

 grey above, and yellowish beneath ; and there are a good number 

 of species, chiefly from Malayana ; only two extending into India 

 proper. 



223. Arachnothera magna, Hodgson. 



Cinnyris, apud Hodgson, Ind. Rev. 1837— Blyth, Cat. 1341 

 — HoRSF., Cat. 1058 — A. inornuta, apud McLelland, P. Z. S., 

 1839. — A. chrysopus, Hodgs — DoiJi-siriok-2:)/io, Lepch., — Yedoiitj- 

 pichang, Bhot. 



The Large Spider-hunter. 



Descr. — Above, yellow-greenish; each feather with a central dull 

 black streak ; lower parts yellowish-white, similarly striated ; tail 

 with a subterminal black band, and an albescent spot beyond this, 

 on the inner web of the outer tail-feathers. 



Bill dusky ; legs bright orange ; irides light brown. 



