I 40 ) 



THE PURPLE SUN-BIRD. 



One of the commonest, often being found in gardens. The male 

 is a very handsome little gentleman, its whole upper plumage dark 

 metallic purple shot with blue and green, its breast an iridescent 

 violet. The hen is a very soberly dressed little person whose upper 

 plumage is olive green, and her lower parts yellow. Their nest is 

 remarkable from the bold way it is placed in some open conspicuous 

 spot, no attempt being made at concealment. In this very boldness 

 lies its safety. It is a long pear-shaped construction suspended 

 from a bough, and has a small opening at one side ; it is covered with 

 cobwebs to which is attached any rubbish which comes handy. 

 When complete the whole looks like a collection of cobwebs and old 

 leaves, and unless one saw the birds about one would little suspect 

 that it was a nest. As far as I can tell from the few opportunities 

 I have had of watching them, nesting operations seem to be carried 

 out solely by the hen, the cock's chief idea of work being to follow 

 her about persistently singing whilst she busily collects materials 

 and builds the nest. 



Burmese name Pan-sot. 

 (No. 895. A. asiatica.) 



THE BURMESE YELLOW-BREASTED SUN-BIRD. 



Has exactly the same habits as the last and builds a similar nest, 

 the hens being very much alike. In the cock the upper parts are 

 olive yellow, chin, throat, and breast metallic purple, and below 

 that a band of orange red. It is fairly plentiful in gardens round 

 Rangoon. 



No. 898. A. flammaxillaris.) 



THE PITTAS 



Are rather rare birds, of retiring habits, and are only found in 

 dense jungle. They have remarkably short tails and fairly long strong 

 legs, and are birds of a gaudy plumage. 



This brings us to an end of Passerine birds or Perchers which 

 contain by far the largest number of small birds. 



A number of more or less allied families follow, most of them of 

 gaudy plumage, all nesting in holes either of trees or banks. With 

 one exception they lay spotless white eggs. 



These families are the Wood-peckers, Barbets, Rollers, Bee-eaters, 

 King-fishers, Horn-bills, and the Hoopoe ; the last lays spotless pale 

 green eggs. 



