Young tamarind shoots. 



144 THE POOD OF filfcDS IN INDIA. 



919. D. erythrorhynchus. Tickell's Flower-pecker. Nectar of 

 flowers and minute insects ; Layard found that it ate occasionally 

 viscous berries, probably those of a Cuscuta. Jerd. B. I., I, 375. 



Damage ripe mangoes and guavas. B. N. H. Si J., XIV, 

 364. 



2-3-07. 

 6-4-08. ' 

 16-4-07. 

 9-10-07. 

 12-11-08. 

 13-11-07. 

 20-11-07.- 



11-4-09. (Empty). 

 21-10-08. 1 Small moth. 



Some buds and shoots. 



Summary. Of 9 birds obtained 1 was empty, 7 contained 

 shoots of tamarind, and 1 had taken a small moth, and a little vege- 

 table matter. 



921. Piprisoma squalida. Thick-billed Flower-pecker. Small 

 spiders, insects' eggs and larvae, aphides, &c. Jerd. B. I., I, 377. 



925. Pachyglossa melanoxantha. Yellow-bellied Flower-pecker* 

 Small insects and viscid berries. (Hodgson in Jerdon B. I.), F 

 I., II, 386. 



The heads of the Nectarinidse and of the Dicaeidae, especially 

 the former, are often noted as being covered with pollen from the 

 various flowering plants that they frequent, some species notably 

 Arachnechthra asiatica. haunt orchards when the trees are in flower, 

 and may therefore act to some extent as fertilizing agents by carry- 

 ing pollen from one flower to another. This is especially the case 

 with bell-shaped flowers, such as ornamental hibiscus, pomegranate, 

 &c. 



Of the Sun-birds the species of Mthopyga are confined to the 

 hills, while other genera occur at lower elevations and some in the 

 plains (Arachnechthra). The Dicceidce are similarly distributed, the 

 greater number of both families occurring in Burma. The habits 

 of both are alike. They feed on minute insects in flowers, and also 

 on nectar, and occasionally do some damage to ripe fruits especially 

 mangoes. 



