Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Ornithology of Hainan. 237 



lower mandible. Iris dai'k brown. Legs liver-brown. Tongue 

 with a brush at its tip. 



Length about 4*25; wing 2 ; tail 2, including the protracted 

 tipsj which measure '4 ; bill from forehead '625; well curved and 

 somewhat thick. 



Dr. Jerdon, in speaking of the family (B. Lid. i. p. 350), says 

 that the tongue has no brush at the tip. I have entered it as 

 above in my note-book, from a fresh example. 



39. Arachnechthra rhizophor^, Swinh., Ann. & Mag. 

 N. H. 4th ser. iv. p. 436; Walden, supra, p. 25. 



Lord Walden, who was so kind as to compare my specimens 

 of this bird and the last with his fine series of Nectarinice, 

 wrote to me that this "closely resembles A. flammaxillar is from 

 Tenasserim, but differs by possessing a metallic frontal patch '^; 

 and I described it in similar words in the 'Annals.^ I have 

 since compared mine with a specimen in Mr. Gould^s collection ; 

 and though I can discover no other material difference, I will 

 here give a further account of it, that the species may be recog- 

 nizable to those who have not the good fortune to possess the 

 A. flammaxillaris. 



Male. — Forehead to top of crown, before and below the eyes, 

 throat, and breast black, with steel reflections of purple, blue, 

 and green ; the feathers of a rounded form. Below the pectoral 

 patch follows a band of fine maroon, and below again a broader 

 one of olive-black. Belly sulphur-yellow, washed on the flanks 

 with olive, and yielding to primrose-yellow on the vent. On 

 the sides of the breast, in front of the carpal joint of the wing, 

 occurs a tuft of fine yellow feathers with a touch of flame- 

 colour. Axillaries white tinged with yellow, under edges to quills 

 nearly white. Upper parts and wings dull light brown, tinged 

 on the former with olive-green, and faintly edged on the quills 

 with the same ; the quills light hair-brown, the coverts and ter- 

 tiaries being edged with pale brown. Rump washed with 

 brighter olive-green. Tail of twelve broad feathers, slightly 

 graduated, brownish-black, the three outer ones with a white tip, 

 increasing in extent to the outer feather, where it occupies also 

 half the outer margin. Bill black. L-ides blackish-brown. 

 Legs and claws deep leaden-grey. 



N.S. VOL. VI. s 



