NECTARINIIDAE 



569 



P'IG. 13G.— Splendid Sim-bird. Cinnyris sjAendidus. 



The long slender l)ill, without bristles of any kind, is niucli pro- 

 duced and curved in Neodrepania ; Lotli mandibles being terminally 

 serrated, except in Pvo- 

 vternji^ aiul OIntlcoparia, 

 of which the former 

 has the maxilla notched. 

 The extensible tongue 

 is bifid, with each half 

 frayed out medio-vent- 

 rally, s;tve in Promerop^, 

 where it is a seini-canal 

 with dorso - laterally 

 frayed edges. The meta- 

 tarsi are moderate, the 

 claws curved and acute. 

 Arachndfhrra has l)oth 



the l)ill and the feet stouter. The more or less rounded wings 

 are of medium length ; the tail varies from square or nearly so to 

 graduated, and has two narrow elongated median rectrices in the 

 males of Hcdyillpna, Xectctrinia, Anthobaplies, Aethopyga, Urodre- 

 ponis and Drepanorhynchus. That of Promcrops is extraordi- 

 narily long and graduated in Ijoth sexes. Arachnuthcirt clirysu- 

 (jeiiys has the loral region naked, and the male of Neodrepanis 

 bluish circum-ocular wattles. 



It is impossiljle to descrilie shortly the diverse coloration of the 

 various species ; some shew mucli green, black, brown, or olive ; 

 nearly all exhilnt brilliant, if not metallic, red, blue, lilac, copper, 

 yellow, or orange tints ; a few are chiefly purple ; many are longi- 

 tudinally streaked below ; in others the breast is wdiite, or exhibits 

 red or orange bands, while the fore-neck may be vermilion striped 

 with lilac. The sides of tlie l)ack frequently possess long downy 

 feathers, and pectoral tufts are common. In Arachnotheni both 

 sexes are greyish or greenish, relieved by a little yellow or orange. 

 Females, however, are usually sombre, the young being similar. 

 The bill is black or brown, the feet vary in hue. 



These small graceful forms, restless, though not shy, are rarely 

 seen in companies, but usually in pairs ; they frequent groves and 

 forests up to an altitude of about a thousand feet, resorting to more 

 open country and gardens when the shrubs are flowering. The 

 food consists mainly of insects — sometimes taken on the wing — 



