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MAHRATT3TSUN-BIRD. 



Nectarinia Mahrattensis, LATHAM. 



PLATE XXIV. 



THE species which we have placed under the above 

 name we have received from the plains of India, 

 the more alpine districts, by the attention of Cap- 

 tain Alexander Singers, from Nipaul, through Mr. 

 Hodgson, and, as Mr. Jerdon remarks of it, " it 

 appears to be the most generally distributed of all 

 the Cinnyridae, and is the only one I have met with 

 on the bare table land." Notwithstanding this ap- 

 parent frequency, and that it is not an uncommon 

 bird in Indian collections, the descriptions of authors 

 are so very short, that it is with difficulty that by 

 them it can be separated from some allied birds. 

 From the following description also, it will be seen 

 how near it agrees with the last bird, differing, 

 however, by the more purple tint of the upper 

 plumage, the black belly and vent, the orange as 

 well as yellow axillary tufts, and by the form and 

 proportions of the bill. 



The entire length is from four inches seven-tenths 

 to four and a half; bill to the forehead seven, or 

 seven-tenths and a half. The upper parts and lesser 



