224 



MINUTE SUN-BIRD. 



Nedarinia minuta, SYKES. 



VIGNETTE TITLE. 



A LOVELY species of Sun-bird was characterised 

 by Colonel Sykes in his Catalogue of the Birds of 

 the Deccan, under the above name ; specimens were 

 also met with by Jerdon on the Indian peninsula, 

 a pair of which were forwarded for our examina- 

 tion, and these we have been unable to reconcile to 

 any previous description. They were met with by 

 the latter naturalist in the high forest-jungle of 

 Malabar; by Colonel Sykes " only in the dense 

 woods of the Ghauts. White ants and the larvaB of 

 flies were found in their stomach/' 



The entire length of Mr. Jerdon's specimens is 

 about three inches six-tenths (he states three inches 

 and three-quarters). Above, the crown and nape 

 are brilliant olive with purple reflections, and of a 

 soft scutellated appearance; the upper plumage^ 

 including the lesser wing-covers, are very rich pur- 

 plish red with a large mixture of scarlet, on the 

 lower back and upper tail-covers varying with pale 

 bluish purple. The wings are umber-brown, the 

 tail dark blackish brown. Beneath, the throat and 



