218 



VON HASSEI/TS SUN-BIRD. 



Nectarinia Hasseltii, TEMMINCK. * 



PLATE XXII. 



THIS species is indicated in Sir Stamford Raffle's 

 catalogue in the Linnean Society's Transactions for 

 1812, under the title and as a variety of " Certhia 

 sperata ;" it is not, however, any of the states to 

 which that name has been applied ; and in modern 

 times, at least, Temminck separated and recognised 

 it as a distinct species. 



The specimen which we have figured and de- 

 scribed, has the whole crown extending a short way 

 upon the nape of a brillant golden green; the 

 feathers of a short and soft texture, and not appear- 

 ing imbricated ; the cheeks, sides, back of the neck, 

 wings, and tail, are of a deep velvet black ; the 

 mantle, lower back, and tail-covers, with the lesser 

 wing-covers and bend, of a metallic olive-green or 

 steel-blue, varied according to the lights. Under- 

 neath, the chin is nearly black, bordered on each 

 side with a maxillary stripe, and shading downwards 



* This bird is Certhia Brasiliana violacea of Brisson ; Certhia 

 Brasiliana, Shaw. We have retained Temminck's specific 

 name as preferable to Brasiliana, though the latter was given 

 much prior to it. 



