AMETHYST THROATED SUNBIRD. 135 



son, the male assumes the dull olive-coloured plum- 

 age of the female, but retains its green front and 

 amethystine throat. Le Yaillant affirms that he 

 found its nest, built in thick bushes, or in the holes 

 of trees ; and that it lays six grey eggs, spotted with 

 olive-green. 



The general colour of the adult male is deep vel- 

 vet-black, without any gloss or variation of the tint, 

 except on the wings and tail, which are lighter and 

 inclined to brown : the fore half of the head is of a 

 rich emerald-green, glossed with golden ; while on 

 the chin, and half way down the middle of the 

 throat, there is a large patch of changeable ame- 

 thystine purple : this splendid colour is also on the 

 tips of the upper tail-covers, and forms a spot at the 

 angle of the carpal joint of the wing : the female 

 we have not seen : the bill is more than usually 

 curved. 



Total length, 6 T % inches ; bill, 1/0; wings, al- 

 most 3 ; tail beyond, ; ditto, from the base, 2 ; 

 tarsus, T V 



