THE COLLAEED SUN-BIRD. 337 



Tiie general colors of the Hoopoe are white, buff, and black, distrib- 

 uted in the following manner: The plumes of the crest, which is com- 

 posed of a double row of feathers, are of a reddish buff, each feather 

 being tipped with black. The remainder of the head, neck, and breast 

 is purplish buff, and the upper part of the beak purple-gray. Three 

 semicircular black bands are drawn across the back, and the quill 

 feathers of the wings are marked with broad bands of black and white. 

 The tail is also black, with the exception of a shai ply-defined white 

 semicircular band that runs across the centre. 



The under portions of the body are pale yellowish buff, and the under 

 tail-coverts are white. In their colors the two sexes are rather differ- 

 ent from each other, the male being of a more ruddy hue than Ins 

 mate, and having a larger crest. The total length of the adult 

 Hoopoe is not quite thirteen inches. 



SUN-BIRDS. 



The beautiful and glittering Sun-birds evidently represent in the 

 Old World the humming-birds of the New. In their dimensions, 

 color, general form, and habits, they are very similar to their bril- 

 liant representatives in the western hemisphere, although not quite 

 so gorgeous in plumage or so powerful and enduring of wing. They 

 are termed Sun-birds because the hues with which their feathers are so 

 lavishly embellished gleam out with peculiar brilliancy in the sunlight. 



These exquisite little birds feed on the juice of flowers and the minute 

 insects that are found in their interior, but are not in the habit of feed- 

 ing while on the wing, hovering over a flower and sweeping up its nectar 

 with the tongue, as is the case among the humming-birds. 



The Collared Sun-bird is an inhabitant of many parts of Africa, 

 stretching from the northern portions of that continent as far as the 

 western coasts. It is extremely plentiful in the larger forests of the 

 Cape and the interior, but there is very little information concerning 

 its habits, saving that they resemble those of its relations. The nidifi- 

 cation of this species differs according to the locality, for it places its 

 nest in the interior of hollow trees wherein it resides in the forests, and 

 is content with the shelter of a thick bough when there are no decaying 

 trees within reach. 



The male Collared Sun-bird is a most beautiful little creature, be- 

 decked with glowing tints of wonderful intensity. The general color of 

 the upper parts of the body and breast is a rich golden green, the upper 

 surface of the wings and tail being blackish brown with green reflections. 

 Across the breast are drawn several colored bands, which have earned 

 for the bird its popular and expressive name, as all names should be. 

 A narrow band of bright steel-blue runs across the upper part of the 

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