228 NECTARINIIDjE. 



Gen. Cinnyris. Cm. 



Bill longer than the head, strongly curved, and much pointed ; culmen 

 keeled ; no rictal bristles ; first primary short ; third, fourth and fifth longest ; 

 tail shorter than the wing ; tarsus covered with transverse scales. 



733. Cinnyris asiatica (Lath.), Less., Man. d'Om. ii. p. 36; 



Vieill, N. Diet. a" Hist. Nat. xxxi. p. 493 ; Shelley, Monogr. Nect. p. 1 8 1, pi. 57 ; 

 Legge, B. Ceylon, p. 566 ; Gadow, Cat. B.Br.Mus. ix. p. 57. Cinnyris 

 orientalis, Frankl., P. Z. S. 1831, p. 122. Cinnyris currucaria, Sykes, P. Z. S. 

 1832, p. 98. Nectarinia Mahrattensis, Jard., Monogr. Sun-Birds, pp. 222, 

 264, pi. 24(1843). Nectarinia asiatica, Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. As. Soc. B. p. 224 ; 

 Gould, B. Asia, pt. 8, pi. 2. Arachnethra asiatica, Reichb., Handb. Scansorice, 

 p. 295, No. 691, pi. 579; Jerd., B.Ind.i. p. 370, No. 234; Beavan, Ibis, 

 1865, p. 414; Walden, Ibis, 1870, p. 20; Hume, Nests and Eggs, Ind. B. 

 p. 151 ; Ball, Str. F. 1874, p. 396; Hume, Str. F. 1875, p. 87 ; Armstrong, 

 tom.cit.-p. 313; Blyth, and Wald., Cat. B. Br. Burmah ; Butler, Str. F. 

 iii. p. 462 ; Hume and Dav., Sir. F. ii. p, 190 ; Murray, Hdblt. Zool., &c., 

 Stnd, p. 132 ; id., Vert. Zool., Sind, p. 119. Arachnethra intermedia, Hume, 

 Ibis, 1870, p 436; Jerd., Ibis, 1872, p. 18; Hume, Nests and Eggs, Ind. B. 

 p. 154. THe PURPLE HONEYSUCKER. 



Summer plumage, Head, neck, throat, breast, and back glossy greenish 

 purple ; abdomen purplish black ; tail dull black, faintly white-tipped ; wings 

 dull black ; a tuft of crimson and yellow feathers on the flanks behind the 

 axil. In the winter garb, or non-breeding plumage, the upper parts are dull 

 olive green, beneath yellow ; shoulder and stripe from chin to vent brilliant 

 glossy violet ; wings and tail dusky. The female is olive grey above and 

 olive yellow beneath; the breast and throat deep yellow; wings dusky; tail 

 black. Bill and legs black ; irides reddish brown. 



Length. 4-5 inches; wings 2*25 ; tail 1*5 ; bill at front 075. 



Hab. Throughout India to Ceylon and Burmah ; also Nepaul and Upper 

 Pegu. Occurs in Beloochistan, S. Persia, S. Afghanistan, South India, 

 Travancore, the Deccan, Kutch, Karttiawar, Jodhpore, and N. Guzerat- It is 

 everywhere extremely common, and breeds during June and July, laying two 

 eggs, which are greenish white, speckled and marked with a deep grey. The 

 nest is pendulous, usually suspended from the end of the branch of a tree, 

 and composed of wool, fibres, leaves, grasses, &c., with a hole at nearly the 

 bottom for an entrance. 



734. Cinnyris brevirostris (Blan/.\ Gadow, Cat. B. Br. Mus. 



ix.p. 59. Nectarinia (Arachnethra) brevirostris, Blanf., Ibis, 1873, p. 86; id., 

 East. Persia, ii. p. 220, pi. 14. Cinnyris asiaticus, Shelley, Monog. Nect. 

 P. 182. Arachnethra asiaticus, Murray, Vert. Zool., Sind, p. 119. The 

 SHORT-BILLED PURPLE HONEYSUCKER. 



