209 



PURPLE-RUMPED LONG-TAILED SUN-BIRD. 



Nectarinia platura, VIEILLOT. 



PLATE XIX. 



LE VAILLANT, in describing this bird, seems to 

 have felt that it was an aberrant form, and from 

 the resemblance of the bill to that of the warblers, 

 gave it the appellation of " Figuier" and it also 

 varies from the previously noticed birds in minute 

 size of the first quill, as represented in the wood-cut 

 at the end of this description ; he only found it in 

 the forests of the country of the Namaquois, where 

 it gained its subsistence chiefly from the flowers of a 

 species of scentless jessamine, which grew in abun- 

 dance under the mimosas; little farther is known 

 regarding it, and the nest was not found. Our own 

 specimens were received from Southern Africa, but 

 without any accompanying information. The total 

 length of a male, apparently in complete plumage, 

 is six inches and eight tenths ; the bill to the fore- 

 head, four tenths; the long caudal feathers surpassing 

 the tail by two inches six tenths. The upper parts, 

 above the rump, are green, with bronze and slight 

 purple reflections ; the rump and tail-coverts violet 

 purple ; the throat, fore part of the neck, and upper 

 parts of the breast, duck green, with metallic reflec- 



