370 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



passing over into Ceylon. Layard states that it replaces N. 

 Zeylonica in the north of the Island. It is by no means common. 

 1 have seen it up to nearly 3,000 feet on the slopes of the Neilghcr- 

 riea and also near the level of the sea in Llalabar. 



Gen. Aeachnechthra, Cabanis. 



Char.— ^Wl rather lengthened and well curved. Plumage 

 throughout dark, glossed on the breast and upper parts, and with a 

 tuft of yellow feathers in the axilla. 



These are birds of the plains chiefly, and are great spider-eaters. 

 One of them (at least) has a vernal moult. 



234. Araclmechthra Asiatica, Latu. 



Certhia, apud Latham— Blyth, Cat. 13G0— Horsf., Cat. 1085— 

 Cin. mahrattcnsis, Lath., Sykes, Cat. 133 — Jerdon, Cat. 232 — 

 C. orientalis, Franklin — C. epauletta, Hodgs. — C. currucaria, L., 

 apud Sykes, Cat. — C. strigula, HoDGS. 



The Purple IIoney-sucker. 



Descr. — In summer, breeding plumage, this species has the whole 

 head, neck, throat, breast, and back, glossy green-purple ; the ab- 

 domen purplish-black ; wings and tail dull black, the latter faintly 

 white-tipped ; a tuft of crimson and yellow feathers at the axilla of 

 the wings. After breeding, the fine purple garb is doffed, all except 

 a long stripe from the chin to the vent, in which state it is the 

 currucaria of authors ; and Col. Sykes was quite right in stating that 

 this was not the livery of the young bird. He, however, unaware 

 of the change of plumage, considered it to be a distinct species. It 

 has the upper parts dull olive-green ; beneath bright yellow ; shoui- 

 ^ders and central stripe beneath, brilliant glossy violet ; wings and 

 tail dusky or black. 



The female is greenish brown-grey above, greenish-yellow be- 

 neath, deepest on the tiiroat and breast, and lighter on the vent 

 and under tail-covcrts ; quills dusky ; tail black. 



Bill and legs black ; irides dark red-brown. Length 4^ inches ; 

 wing 2 ^^y ; tail 1^; bill at front | ; tarsus y%. 



