SITTA. 219 



A broad band on the forehead and a long supercilium black ; ear coverts 

 lilac; chin and throat whitish; rest of the upper plumage, including the wing 

 coverts, fine cerulean blue, with a slight purplish shade ; quills and primary 

 coverts deep black, edged with blue ; central pair of tail feathers blue, the rest 

 black, largely tipped and margined with blue ; under wing coverts deep 

 black ; under surface of the body pale vinous brown. Bill bright cobalt 

 blue ; legs sienna yellow ; orbital skin lemon yellow ; iris light straw yellow. 



Length. 4*5 to 5 inches ; wing 2-9; tail 17 ; tarsus 07; oilmen 0*65. 



Ifa. From the Himalayas to Ceylon, throughout the Burmese countries, 

 Java, Borneo and the Phillipines. According to Jerdon, it is found over the 

 greater part of India in suitable localities. He found it on the Malabar Coast, 

 on the summit of the Neilgherries, in Central India, in Goomsoor, and also on 

 the Himalayas. In Ceylon as well as in Assam, Burmah and Malayana, it is 

 not uncommon. Gates says it occurs over every portion of Pegu where 

 there is thick forest, but is commoner on the hills than elsewhere. Davison 

 found it throughout Tenasserim, and Captain Bingham in the Thoungyeen 

 valley. The species is generally found in small companies of 5 or 6, affecting 

 trees and brushwood. They nest during February and March, lay 3 4 eggs 

 of a whitish colour, spotted with red and purple. 



Group. CINNYRIMORPH^E. 



Bill long, always pointed and curved ; tongue extensile. No rictal 

 bristles. Colours metallic. 



Family. NECTARINIID^E. 



Bill of various lengths, generally long, always much pointed, and more or less 

 curved. Nostrils basal, rounded, covered by membrane. Rictal and nasal 

 bristles wanting ; wings moderate, first primary small ; third to fifth primaries 

 form the tip of the wing ; tongue long, protractile, and ending in a tube, which 

 is divided anteriorly ; tarsus anteriorly covered with transverse scales ; hallux 

 and claws stout 



The Honeysuckers, or Sunbirds as they are called, are noted for the 

 brilliant and metallic splendour of their plumage, and may be said to take 

 the place in India of the humming birds of America. The principal 

 ground colours are yellow and green, with the addition of other ornamental 

 and metallic colours, which are generally, with the pectoral tufts, characteristic 

 of the male bird. The central tail feathers of many are elongated. The 

 sexes differ much in colour, the females being dressed in plain yellow, greenish 

 yellow, or pale fawn yellow. They live chiefly on minute insects, and on the 

 nectar of flowers. Nests pensile ; eggs generally two, white. 



