70 CINNYRIS ALDABRENSIS. 



correct position of the bird is to sit on the highest bract, and 

 then to bend forwards and downwards to suck the sugary liquid 

 by introducing its beak below the odd petal. Iu doing this it 

 will explode a virgin flower, dusting its breast with pollen, 

 while in older flowers it will touch the stigraatic surface, and 

 so effect cross-fertilization. Sometimes it bops into the middle 

 of a flower, however, and tries to reach the honey from the 

 same bract by bending round the petals. Beetles and 

 hymenoptera often visit the flowers to suck the sugary liquid 

 which exudes over the edges of the bract. They will only 

 produce fertilization by accident, however, while the narrow 

 curved beak of the bird is excellently adapted to pass between 

 the edges of the rigid bracts and suck the honey." 



Referring to the Sunbirds of Madagascar, the Rev. J. 

 Sibree writes : " The native names for these little birds all 

 consist wholly or in part of the word Soy, the meaning of 

 which is at present unknown ; but we find Soikely, " Little 

 Soy ; " Soimanga, " Beautiful Soy ; " Soiangaly, " Capricious 

 Soy ; " and also Dandiana, possibly meaning " Stepper." The 

 word Soy is also reduplicated in another name, " Soisby." 

 He further tells us that the Hova or general names for 

 C. souimanga are Soisoy and Soikely, and the provincial names 

 Anatsdy, Soy and Anjoy. 



The name Soy is derived from the note of the bird, as has 

 already been remarked by M. Grandidier. 



Dr. Abbott during his visit to Gloriosa Island, from 

 January 18 to 29, collected four specimens, and remarks: 

 " Common in Grloriosa. A very few were nesting at the time 

 of our visit." 



Cinnyris aldabrensis. 



Cinnyris aldabrensis, Eidgway, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1894, p. 372; 

 1895, p. 536 Aldabra Is. 



