SPLENDID SUNBIRD. 



Cinnyris splendida, CUVIER. 



Glossy violet, with the back and elongated tail-covers emerald- 

 green ; breast with transverse interrupted lines of crimson; 

 belly and vent black ; hypochondriac feathers yellow. 



Certhia lotenia, Linn&us. I/Eclatant, Viettlot Ois. cPOr. pi. 2. 

 Le Soui manga a plumes soyeuses, Ib. pi. 82. Le Su- 

 crier eblouissant, Le Vaill. Ois. tfAf. vi. 295, f. 1 Cin- 

 nyris lucidus, Traite d'Orn. 295. 



THE enthusiastic Le Yaillant might well be enrap- 

 tured upon discovering this charming little creature, 

 which is certainly the most splendid species in this 

 group we have yet seen. It is difficult even to de- 

 scribe its colours, which change under almost every 

 diversity of light ; while to represent them is impos - 

 sible. Metallic tints, which more especially belong 

 to birds of the most dazzling plumage, are those 

 which the painters art can least represent ; and this 

 is the true cause why birds so ornamented, more 

 especially with different hues of dark blue, purple, 

 or lilac, exhibit nothing of their true richness when 

 attempted to be represented on paper. Our readers, 

 therefore, must bear this fact in mind, and not con- 



