THE CEYLON SUN-BI11D. 183 



passes from blossom to blossom with great rapidity. 

 The honeyed nectar of flowers is its favourite food, 

 and when in captivity it will sip sugar and water 

 with delight. 



It builds a nest a little in the shape of a bottle 

 with a long neck, and suspends it from the ex- 

 treme branch of a tree. The nest is made of the 

 very fine fibres of plants, and has a round hole on 

 one side, through which the bird can enter. 



The brilliant Sun-Birds, with their purple and 

 yellow costumes, are found not only in Ceylon, 

 but also in India. The gardens and groves 

 abound with them, and the tiny nest is con- 

 stantly seen hanging from the branches of the 

 trees. 



The mother Sun-Bird wears a grave and sober 

 attire. The upper part of her body is a plain 

 olive-green, and her throat is white. The colours 

 of her wings and tail resemble those of her mate. 



There is a family of birds allied to the Sun- 

 Birds, and very much like them. They live upon 

 the nectar of flowers, and are called Honey-eaters. 



The beak is long and curved like the Sun-Bird's, 



