VII 



NECTARINIIDAE 



569 



The long slender bill, without bristles of any kind, is much pro- 

 duced and curved in Neodrepanis ; both mandibles being terminally 

 serrated, except in Pro- 

 merops and Chalcoparia, 

 of which the former 

 has the maxilla notched. 

 The extensible tongue 

 is bifid, with each half 

 frayed out medio-vent- 

 rally, save in Promerops, 

 where it is a semi-canal 

 with dorso - laterally 

 frayed edges. The meta- 

 tarsi are moderate, the 



claWS Curved and acute ^ IG> *^. Splendid Sun-bird. Cinnyris splendidus. 



Arachnothera has both 



the bill and the feet stouter. The more or less rounded wings 

 are of medium length ; the tail varies from square or nearly so to 

 graduated, and has two narrow elongated median rectrices in the 

 males of Hedydipna, Nectarinia, Anthobaphes, Aethopyga, Urodre- 

 panis and Drepanorhynchus. That of Promerops is extraordi- 

 narily long and graduated in both sexes. Arachnothera chryso- 

 genys has the loral region naked, and the male of Neodrepanis 

 bluish circum-ocular wattles. 



It is impossible to describe shortly the diverse coloration of the 

 various species ; some shew much green, black, brown, or olive ; 

 nearly all exhibit brilliant, if not metallic, red, blue, lilac, copper, 

 yellow, or orange tints ; a few are chiefly purple ; many are longi- 

 tudinally streaked below ; in others the breast is white, or exhibits 

 red or orange bands, while the fore-neck may be vermilion striped 

 with lilac. The sides of the back frequently possess long downy 

 feathers, and pectoral tufts are common. In Arachnothera both 

 sexes are greyish or greenish, relieved by a little yellow or orange. 

 Females, however, are usually sombre, the young being similar. 

 The bill is black or brown, the feet vary in hue. 



These small graceful forms, restless, though not shy, are rarely 

 seen in companies, but usually in pairs ; they frequent groves and 

 forests up to an altitude of about a thousand feet, resorting to more 

 open country and gardens when the shrubs are flowering. The 

 food consists mainly of insects sometimes taken on the wing 



