ae NECTARINIIDAE 569 
The long slender bill, without bristles of any kind, is much pro- 
duced and curved in Neodrepanis ; both mandibles being terminally 
serrated, except in Pro- 
merops and Chalcoparia, 
of which the former 
has the maxilla notched. 
The extensible tongue 
is bifid, with each half 
frayed out medio-vent- 
rally, save in Promerops, 
where 1f is a semi-canal 
with dorso - laterally 
frayed edges. The meta- 
tarsi are moderate, the 
claws curved and acute. FIG. 186.—Splendid Sun-bird. Cinnyris splendidus. 
1 
\ Oe 
Arachnothera has both 
the bill 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 Hedydipna, Nectarinia, Anthobaphes, Aethopyga, Urodre- 
penis and Drepanorhynchus. That of Promerops is extraordi- 
narily long and graduated in both sexes. Arachnothera chryso- 
genys has the loral region naked, and the male of Neodrepanis 
bluish circum-ocular wattles. 
It is impossible to describe shortly the diverse coloration of the 
various species; some shew much green, black, brown, or olive ; 
nearly all exhibit brillant, 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 white, or exhibits 
red or orange bands, while the fore-neck may be vermilion striped 
with lilac. The sides of the back frequently possess long downy 
feathers, and pectoral tufts are common. In Arachnothera 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— 
