208 



THE AUSTRALIAN DIC^:iTM. 



LAEfiEsT of all the group, the Malachite Sun-bird has long attracted the attention 

 of ornithologists, on account of its great comi)arative size and its beautiful plumage. 



It is one of tlie African species, being an inhabitant of the Cape of Good Hope, where 

 it remains tJiroughout the entire year, and is in the habit of frequenting the gardens, and 

 soon becomes familiar with the projjrietors, 2:)rovided that it be not disturbed. Sometimes 

 the Malachite Sun-birds take a violent fancy to some particular shrub or tree, and may 



be seen in flocks of forty or fifty in number 

 congregating upon its branches and amusing 

 themselves among its blossoms. Day after 

 day these birds may be seen in the same spot, 

 attracted by some irresistible though ol^scure 

 charm resident in the tree which they favour. 

 The nest of this species is composed of very 

 tiny twigs covered with moss, and contains 

 four or five green eggs. 



The title of Malachite Sun-bird has been 

 given to this creature on account of the 

 brilliant malachite-green of its plumage. 



The male bird when dressed in full nuptial 

 costume is a remarkably handsome bird, and 

 is nearly double the length of any other species, 

 often exceeding nine inches in total length. 

 The whole of the upper surface is rich golden- 

 green marked with a reddish bronze. The 

 feathers of the throat and forehead are of the 

 same hue, but of so deep a tone that they 

 appear to be velvety-black at first sight, and 

 are so constructed that they have a velvet- 

 like feel to the touch as well as to the sight. 

 AVhenever the bird moves, even by the act of 

 respiration, waves of bright hues seem to 

 ripple upon its surface, caused by the peculiar 

 colouring of the feathers, which are black at 

 their bases and coloured at their extremities. 

 The wings and tail are black, and the secon- 

 daries and wing-coverts are edged with green 

 and violet. There is a tuft of bright yellow 

 feathers under each sljoulder. 



The female is much smaller than her 

 mate, and is of a dull olive-brown, except 

 the exterior feathers of the tail, which are 

 edged with white. 



Among other long-tailed Sun-birds may 

 be mentioned Nectar iiu'a ptdchella, which 

 may be known by its green-edged black tail- 

 feathers and the bright double collar of 

 carmine and golden-yellow that runs across the chest. Another species, also long-tailed, 

 Nectarinia platura, is remarkable for the lirilliant golden-yellow of the Vireast and 

 abdomen, and the rich violet-purple of the upjier tail-coverts. 



MALACHITE SUN BIRD.— Kcc/art)iia /(im(isa. 



The beautiful little Dictum, although very common throughout the whole of 

 Australia, and a. remarkalily interesting little bird, was, when Rlr. Gould wrote his 

 animated description, so little known among the colonists that there was no popular 

 name for the bright little creature. 



This tiny bird is fond of inhabiting the extreme summits of the tallest trees, and 

 habitually dwells at so great an elevation that its nunute form is hardly peree]itible, and 



