GOALPARAH SUN-BIRD. 231 



The length of our Nipaul specimen is about five 

 inches four-tenths ; of the bill to the forehead, seven 

 and a half tenths; that of the long tail-feathers, 

 about two and six-tenths, exceeding the other about 

 eight tenths. The bill, legs, and feet are wood- 

 brown, the latter very pale on the mandible ; the 

 crown golden-green with slight purple reflections, 

 changing its intensity with the light; the nape, 

 back, and scapulars deep carmine red, with a brown- 

 ish or subdued tinge, separating them from the 

 colour of the cheeks, throat, and breast, which are 

 of a clear and dazzling scarlet, relieved on each side 

 of the maxilla with a moustache or streak of rich 

 violet purple. The rump is banded with pale king's- 

 yellow, but immediately below the red on the back 

 the feathers, of an oil-green colour, are lengthened, 

 and can be made to conceal entirely the yellow 

 band, which we have no doubt they do while the 

 bird continues in a state of rest. The wings are 

 umber-brown, having the feathers edged with oil- 

 green ; the vent and under tail-covers are pale 

 clove-brown or greyish white. The tail itself is 

 brownish black, with the upper covers and two 

 centre feathers deep green, with reflections; the 

 two centre feathers are much lengthened, and are of 

 disunited texture. 



This species does not appear to be very uncom- 

 mon ; we have seen several specimens of it, and its 

 range is also somewhat wide; as stated, we possess 

 it from Nipaul. Professor Royle figures it from 

 Deyra Doon as an example of a tropical form from 



