NECTARININ^. 369 



parts pale yellow ; albescent on throat and fore-neck. Young 

 males resemble the females, but have the throat more yellow. 



This species is spread throughout India from the extreme South 

 to Bengal, not reaching the Himalayas. It is rare in Central 

 India, and is apparently not found in the North-west pro- 

 vinces. It extends through Dacca into Assam. It is exceedingly 

 abundant in Madras, more so I think than in Lower Beno-al. It 

 does not change its plumage at the breeding season, the males 

 always retaining their brilliant plumage. It may be seen in every 

 garden flitting from flower to flower, and it builds a very neat nest 

 of grass, vegetable fibres, spiders' web sometimes, with a hole at 

 the side near the top, overshadowed by a canopy of the same 

 materials, and lays usually two eggs of a pale greenish tinge, with 

 small dusky spots. It has a feeble chirp, like that of Certhia 

 familiaris, and it has also a weak shrill short of song. This bird 

 feeds on the honey of flowers, and small insects which infest flowers, 

 buds, &c. Layard states that it is very pugnacious — abundant in 

 southern part of Ceylon. Bl^'^th informs us that many are taken 

 at Calcutta by bird-lime for sale, and that they can be kept alive for 

 many days on sugar and water, honey, or fruit-jam. 



233. Leptcocoma minima, Sykes. 



Cinnyris, apud Sykes, Cat. 125— Jerdox, Cat. 235— Blyth, 

 Cat. 1369.— HonsF., Cat. 1083— Jard., Nat. Libr., figd. fron- 

 tispiece. 



The Tiny Honey-sucker. 



Descr. — Head and nape fine metallic green; back, scapulars, 

 and wing-coverts, rich bright sanguine-red ; rump the same, but 

 with a fine violet or amethystine gloss ; wings and tail dusky- 

 brown ; throat and neck fine amethystine ; the rest of the lowec 

 parts pale yellow. 



The female is olive-brown above, with a red rump, and pale 

 yellow beneath. 



Length 3i to 3f inches ; wing 1^-'^ ; tail 1-j^ ; bill at front f. 



This beautiful little species has only been found un the West 

 coast of India, extending from about N. Lat. 18' to Travancorc, and 



3 A 



