THE SUNBIRDS. 113 
well, and is much more familiar than most of the Larks, 
it would be an acquisition in any country. 
THE SUNBIRDS. 
The Sunbirds, commonly called Honey-suckers by 
Europeans, and Shakar khora by natives, are most 
charming little creatures, only found in the warm parts 
of the Old World. They are often mistaken for the 
true Humming-birds, which they resemble in feeding 
on nectar and small insects, and rival in the beauty 
of their plumage. But the Humming-birds are confined 
to the New World, and so none of them are ever to be 
seen in India. Moreover, they have quite distinct habits 
from any other birds, being constantly on the wing with 
a buzzing flight like that of the hawk-moths, which 
insects they resemble, rather than birds, to an in- 
experienced eye. The Honey-suckers, on the other hand, 
hop about the twigs like other little birds, perching on the 
flower-stems to extract the honey, etc., from the blossoms, 
and only hovering a little occasionally. They have long 
slender bills, usually curved, and fairly long legs. Their 
wings are moderate in size, but although usually very small 
birds, they fly high and strongly, and do not mind exposing 
themselves in the open—at any rate this is the case with 
the two commonest Indian species. They build hanging 
nests, and lay spotted eggs. The cocks are very brilliantly 
coloured, but the hens are plain, though dainty and 
graceful in appearance; the young are like their mothers. 
These lovely little birds are very tame and familiar, 
coming freely into gardens, and allowing themselves to 
F, GAB 8 
