266 NECTAEINIID^. 



seal ings of bark, &c. ; but the substance and internal lining are 

 constructed of the softest fibres only, which are reflected over the 

 lower portion of the entrance, so as to fasten down its rim, im- 

 parting thus a neatness of finish to this part of the structure ; 

 above the floor of the entrance is an overhanging roof or canopy, 

 formed by the lining of the upper third or more of the nest being 

 made to project semicircularly over the orifice, and then finished 

 externally like the rest, with coarser material and some bits of 

 leaves and the like, to disguise the na'ure of the fabric." 



Mr. F. B-. Blewitt sends me the following note : " I have met 

 with this beautiful species only in the extensive forests of the 

 liaipore and Sumbulpore Districts. It is to be met with in con- 

 siderable numbers, either singly or in pairs ; incessantly flitting 

 from flower to flower, and from tree to tree. I have never seen 

 it in gardens anywhere ; it has a very feeble shrill kind of chirp, 

 easily distinguishable from the louder chirp of A. asiatica. The 

 bird breeds in February and March and probably part of April. 

 On the 19th February, 1871, in the Raipore District, a nest, with 

 two fresh eggs, was found suspended some 20 feet from the 

 ground, from the end of a thin upper branch of a sal tree in open 

 forest country. After many unsuccessful attempts it was even- 

 tually with great difficulty secured. A few days after another 

 unfinished nest was discovered, similarly suspended. The nest is 

 bottle-shaped, with a very moderate-sized neck, cleverly attached 

 to the branch. The exterior is neatly made of fine grass, largely 

 dotted over with small affixtures of vegetable fibres, spider's web, 

 &c. The interior is carefully lined with soft seed-down ; the 

 entrance-hole is about midway. The nest first found lacked the 

 canopy described by Dr. Jerdon. Constructed at a great height 

 from the ground and cleverly disguised, it is very difficult to detect 

 the small nest of this Sun-bird." 



Mr. JB. Aitken sends me the following interesting note : " This 

 is the common Sun-bird of Bombay. In Poona and Berar it is 

 not so often seen as Arachnechthra asiatica. It is very familiar, 

 building in every garden, and quite regardless of observation. I 

 have several times seen the nest not more than eight feet from the 

 ground. Few birds leave the nest so early as this species. For 

 days after they are fledged they are so helpless as easily to be 

 caught by the hand, and many fall a prey to Crows. I have no 

 doubt whatever that they have two broods between June and 

 IN'ovember, but a nest may also occasionally be found in the hot 

 weather. The covered porch over the nest is not invariable. 

 With reference to Mr. Theobald's note in your ' Rough Draft,' 

 that he always found one young bird larger than the other, I may 

 mention that on the 25th March, 1871, I found a nest at Poona 

 which contained a young bird that I judged to be three days old, 

 and an egg ready to be hatched. I am surprised that neither you 

 nor your correspondents seem to have noticed that one of the two 

 eggs is nearly always addled. According to my experience both 

 eggs are seldom hatched. I have found old deserted nests with 



