860 NECTA.RINIIDJ3. 



has caused this bird to be subdivided into several races, none of 

 which, however, appears worthy to be upheld. 



Distribution. The whole peninsula of India from Cape Comorin 

 to the Himalayas, where this species is found up to 5000 feet, and 

 from Sind and the Punjab to the extreme east of Assam, thence 

 extending south through Burma to Central Teuasserim and the 

 Thoungyeen valley. The furthest point south in Tenasserim 

 where this bird has been observed on the sea-board is Tay. This 

 Sun-bird also occurs in Ceylon. 



Outside Indian limits, this species is found on the west as far as 

 Persia, and on the east it extends to Cochin China. 



Habits, fyc. Breeds almost the whole year round, having two 

 or more broods. The nest is a pear-shaped structure suspended 

 from a low branch and composed principally of grass, with which, 

 however, are combined various other materials. The outside is 

 invariably ornamented with cobwebs to which are attached pieces 

 of bark, dead leaves, and excreta of caterpillars. The entrance, at 

 the side, is overhung by a small porch in most instances. The eggs, 

 two or three in number, are dull white, marked with various shades 

 of brown and measure about '64 by '46. 



896. Arachnechthra hasselti. Van Jfasselt's Sun-bird. 



Certhia brasiliana, Gmel. Syst. Nat. i, p. 474 (1788). 



Nectarinia hasseltii, Temm. PI. Chi. pi. 376, fig. 3 (1825) ; Blyth, 



Cat. p. 226. 



Nectarinia phayrei, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xii, p. 1008 (1843). 

 Leptocoma hasseltii (Temm.}, Horsf. fy M. Cat. ii, p. 740; Godw.- 



Aust. J. A. S. B. xliii, p. 156. 

 Leptocoma brasiliana (Gm.), Wold. P. Z. S. 1866. p. 543; Hume 



$ Dav. S. F. vi, p. 184. 



Nectarophila brasiliana (Gm.), Wald. Ibis, 1870, p. 41. 

 Cinnyris hasselti (Temm.), Shelley, Mon. Nect. pp. xxvii, xxxi, 127, 



pi. 42 ; Oates, S. F. x, p. 197 ; id. B. B. i. p. 318 ; Gadow, Cat. 



B. M. ix, p. 67. 



Cinnyris brasiliana (Gm.), Hume, Cat. no. 233 bis. 

 Arac'hnechthra hasselti (Temm.\ Oates in Hume's N. fy E. 2nd ed. 



ii. p. 258. 



Coloration. Male. Forehead and crown shining golden green ; 

 lores, cheeks, ear-coverts, the neck above and at the sides, the upper 

 back, tertiaries, and all the wing-coverts except those near the edge 

 of the wing deep black ; the wing-coverts near the edge of the wing, 

 scapulars, lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts brilliant pur- 

 plish blue ; primaries and secondaries brownish black ; under wing- 

 coverts deep black; throat and fore neck brilliant amethystine- 

 purple ; breast and upper abdomen rich red ; lower abdomen, sides 

 of the body, vent, and under tail-coverts dull greyish black ; tail 

 brilliant purplish black. 



Female. Upper plumage olive-green, the feathers of the crown 

 dark-centred ; wings brown, the coverts edged with greenish, the 



