206 



THE GOALPOEAH SUN-BIKD. 



The GOALPORAH SUN-BIRD (Nectarinia Goalpariensis) is also worthy of a passing 

 notice. 



This beautiful species is an inhabitant of several parts of Asia, and is rather plentiful 

 in and about Nepal. In dimensions it is equal to the preceding species, the adult male 

 measuring about five and a half inches in length. The nest is beautifully constructed, 

 and is of the pendulous order. The food of this bird consists chiefly of minute insects, 

 spiders, and various larvse, chiefly those of flies. It lives mostly in the depths of the 



densest forests, where it may be 

 found in tolerable numbers by 

 those who choose to take the 

 trouble to search after it. 



In the plumage of this pretty 

 bird, red is the prevailing colour. 

 The crown of the head is rich 

 golden green, and the nape of the 

 neck, the breast, and scapulae are 

 of a dazzlingly brilliant scarlet. 

 The long central tail-feathers are 

 of a rich green, and when closed, 

 as is the case while the bird is at 

 rest, completely conceal the bright 

 yellow tint of the feathers below. 

 The remainder of the tail is 

 brownish black, and all the plu- 

 mage of the lower part of the 

 back is loose and downy in its 

 structure. 



Some of the tribes of the Sun- 

 birds, and their behaviour when 

 in captivity, are well recorded in 

 the following description of some 

 tame Sun-birds, by Captain Boys, 

 quoted in Gould s " Birds of Asia." 

 The species which is described is 

 another Indian species, the Asiatic 

 Sun-bird (Nectarinia Asidticd), 

 called by the natives " Shukur- 

 khor," or sugar-eater : 



" In 1829 I slightly wounded a 

 male in the bastard wing, secured 

 and brought it home. By some 

 neglect it was unthought of for 

 four days, when, on looking into 

 the bag in which it had been 

 placed, I found that it was not 

 only alive, but that the wing had 

 completely cicatrised : I should 

 observe, however, that the broken 

 part of the wing had been taken off 

 with a pair of scissors immediately 

 after the bird was brought home. 



1 placed it in a cage, and succeeded in keeping it alive for several weeks by feeding it on 

 sugar and water, of which it took great quantities, but, owing perhaps to a want of variety 

 in its food, it became thinner and thinner until it died. During its captivity it was very 

 sprightly, and from the first day readily fed itself by dipping its tongue into the dish of 

 syrup with which it was supplied." 



,; 



COLLARED SUN-BIRD. Nectarinia chalytteia. 

 AVANESE SUN-BIRD. Nectarinia Javdnica. 



