THE HONEYSUCKER. 63 



The male of this species is clad throughout in rich 

 metallic purple, set off by a flame-coloured tuft under each 

 armpit which is ordinarily concealed by the wings. It 

 projects, however, when the bird is settled for repose, and 

 is, I believe, shown off in courtship. 



The hen is olive and yellow Jike that of the yellow-bellied 

 species, but she can easily be distinguished by her bigger 

 bill, and by having a yellow throat as well as breast ; the 

 throat in the hen of the commoner bird being of a dirty 

 white, not yellow. The Purple cock apparently thinks his 

 wedding garment too expensive to be worn the whole year 

 round ; for after nesting he doffs it, and assumes female 

 plumage, retaining only a purple streak from chin to sto- 

 mach as a mark of his sex. The young cocks are at first 

 like the hen, not having even this distinctive mark. 



This species of Honeysucker is a quieter and less sociable 

 bird than the other ; he is commonly seen alone, has a 

 great fancy for particular spots, and does not flirt his 

 wings like his rival. He is, however, a much better song- 

 ster, being nearly equal to a canary ; and sings much 

 merely to amuse himself. I well remember one bird 

 which came to the Museum compound after breeding to 

 change his plumage ; he kept very much to two or three 

 trees, singing, apparently, from one particular twig, and 

 even when in undress he kept up his song. The Purple 

 Honeysucker has a much wider range than the other, being 

 found from Persia to Cochin China, and it also ascends 

 further up the hills. It is, therefore, evidently, a more 

 hardy and adaptable bird ; and as its ordinary feeding and 

 nesting-habits are the same as those of the other species, 



