NECTARININ^E. 135 



rally entire ; nostrils basal, usually nearly covered by a scale ; 

 wings moderate, more or less rounded ; nine or ten primaries, third 

 and fourth longest ; wing-coverts short ; tarsus moderate ; hind^ 

 claw equal to, or scarcely longer than, that of the middle-toe, 



SUBFAMILY, Nectarininse. 



Bill curved, base broad; nostril small; tail long; outer-toe 

 longer than inner. 



GENUS, Arachnothera, Tern. 



Bill very long, moderately curved ; base broad, and somewhat 

 three-sided ; tip entire ; nostrils small, oval, completely covered by 

 a membrane, which only opens by a lateral slit ; wings long ; third 

 and fourth quill longest ; tail short, broad, even ; legs large and 

 strong ; lateral toes slightly unequal ; hind-toe and claw large. 



Arachnothera longirostra, Lath. 



224. A pmilla, Blyth. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. I, p. 361 ; 

 Butler, Deccan; Stray Feathers, Vol. IX, p. 389. 



THE LITTLE SPIDER-HUNTER, 



Length, 575; wing, 2'5 ; tail, T5; tarsus, 0'6 ; bill at front, 

 1'5. 



Bill dusky ; irides brown ; legs plumbeous-brown. 



Above, olive-green, more or less fulvescent ; the crown darker, 

 with scale-like feathers, merely green-edged ; a dark streak from 

 the base of the upper mandible ; chin and throat white ; rest of 

 the under parts dull greenish-albescent, passing into bright palQ 

 yellow on the belly ; tail-feathers slightly tipped with whitish, 

 chiefly on their inner webs, forming a spot most distinct out* 

 wardly. 



The Little Spider-hunter is very rare ; it has been obtained in 

 the forests west of Belgaum, but does not occur elsewhere within 

 our limits. 



GENUS, JEthopyga, Cabanis, 



Bill of moderate length and curvature ; tail graduated, with 

 the central tail-feathers much elongated. 



.ffithopyga vigorsi, Sylces. 



226. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. I, p. 363 ; Butler, Deccan ; 

 Stray Feathers, Vol. IX, p. 390. 



THE VIOLET-EARED BED HONEY SUCKER. 



Male. Length, 5'5 ; tail, 2*5. 



Female. Length, 5 ; tail, 1. 



Bill black ; irides brown. 



Head metallic green ; nape, neck above, shoulders, and scapu- 

 lars, deep sanguineous ; lower part of back sulphur-yellow ; upper 

 tail-coverts, middle tail-feathers, and outer webs of all the others 



