BIRDS OF COLOMBO. 103 



Family NECTARINUDJi. 

 Sub -family Nectariniin^. 



The Sun Birds. 



(894) Arachnechthra lotenia (Loten's Sun Bird), Resident. 



Gates, Fauna Br. Ind. (Birds), II., p. 358 ; Legge, Birds of 

 Ceylon, p. 563. 



The largest of the three Sun Birds foimd in Colombo. It is 

 named after Loten, a Governor of Ceylon, who first recorded it. 



(895) Arachnechthra asiatica (the Purple Sun Bird). Resident. 



Gates, Fauna Br. Ind. (Birds), II., p. 359; Legge, Birds of 

 Ceylon, p. 566. 



In general appearance similar to Loten's , but smaller. Commoner 

 than the foregoing species. 



During the non-breeding season, November and December, both 

 the foregoing species assume the plumage of the female, except for 

 a dark metalUc stripe down the fore-neck. At this period specimens 

 are frequently seen in a mixture of the breeding and non-breeding 

 plumage. 



The plumage of the females is roughly as follows : — 



A. lotenia. — Above, olive -brown ; wings, darker brown. 

 A. asiatica. — Above, mouse-gray ; wings, black. 



The tail in both species is black, and the under parts 5^ellow. 



(901) Arachnechthra zeylonica (the Ceylonese Sun Bird). Resi- 

 dent. 



Gates, Fauna Br. Ind. (Birds), II., p. 364; Legge, Birds of 

 Ceylon, p. 569. 



Same size as A. asiatica, and much the same in appearance, 

 except that the breast and lower parts are j^ellow. It is the com- 

 monest of the three in Colombo. The female has similar colouring 

 to the first two Sun Birds mentioned. It is difficult to give a short 

 description of these beautiful birds without going into details of 

 their wonderful metalhc plumage. I will, therefore, endeavour to 

 give a key which may help in identification : — 



Upper plumage uniformly of one colour ; lower 

 plumage dark coloured; length 5 -5 in.; 

 bill 1 "2 in. . . . . . . A. lotenia 6 



Upper and lower plumage as above ; length 4 • 5 



in. ; bill '8 in. . . . . A. asiatica 6 



Upper plumage, including chin and throat, uni- 

 formly one colour ; breast and under parts 

 bright 3'ellow ; length 4'5in. ; bill -8 in. . . A. zeylonica <^ 



