64 THE StJNBlRDS AND THE HOOPOE. 



istics which fit the latter for their peculiar butterfly 

 life ; but it is, indeed, curious that they should even 

 be clad, like them, with a radiance given to no other 

 birds. What is the connection between a diet of 

 nectar and a vesture of rainbow? A poetic fitness I 

 can see, but science is prosaic and wants a reason 

 why. I am afraid we shall not solve the riddle until 

 we know a great deal more than we yet do of the 

 meaning of colour. 



Our commonest Sunbird (Arachnecthra zeylonica) 

 seen at a distance, and in a dull light, is a tiny bird of 

 a dark brown colour, except on the breast and lower 

 parts, which are yellow. But see it at close quarters, 

 with the sun shining on it, as its admiring mate sees 

 it ! The top of its head glitters with a hue which 

 Jerdon defines as " bright, metallic, glossy green," 

 while Mr. Gates calls it " metallic lilac." Perhaps 

 one looked at it from the front and the other from 

 behind. Its throat and the whole of its back glow with 

 the tints of an amethyst, the shoulders and wings are 

 of the richest maroon red (Mr. Gates says " dull crim- 

 son "), and the tail is black. The admiring mate is 

 herself dressed in the beauty of simplicity. She also 

 is yellow on the under-parts, but paler than her lord, 

 \\hileher head, back, and wings are of a greenish 

 dusky colour. Yet the effect of the whole is very 

 tasteful and pleasing. They are a loving couple, and 

 I think the union is for life, for one seldom sees a 

 single Sunbird. Belt and other observers have stated 

 that Humming-birds frequent flowers less for the nec- 

 tar than for the little insects in them. I am sure this 

 is not true of the Sunbird. It eats plenty of little 

 insects, especially spiders, but it seeks flowers for 



