230 



GOALPARAH SUN BIRD. 

 Nectarinia Goalpariensis, ROYLE. 



PLATE XXVI. 



THE bird we have now represented was received 

 from Nipaul from Mr. Hodgson, and appears iden- 

 tical with the Goulparah Creeper of Latham and 

 the Cinnyri* Viyorsn of Colonel Sykes, although 

 there are slight discrepancies in both these descrip- 

 tions ; in the first there is no mention made of the 

 pale yellow rump and brilliant tail-covers, both of 

 which seem to afford a constant and marked feature 

 for the distinction of some species; the yellow on 

 the rump may, however, have readily escaped no- 

 tice, as from the structure of the plumage on that 

 part it may be at times entirely concealed The 

 feathers upon the sides of tne lower part of the 

 back are of a loose downy texture, and are so long 

 as to be capable of being raised over, and of com- 

 pletely covering not only the yellow patch but part 

 of the tail-covers, and so completely as to require 

 separation before the pale colour can be discovered. 

 In Colonel Sykes' bird we have the maxillary stripe 

 and " macula auriculari, splendenti violaceis ;" the 

 latter is awanting in our Nipaul specimen. 



