8o2 The Sparrow-like Birds 



come to the final Indian genus, the members of which are known as Spider- 

 hunters (Arachnothera). They are not so brilliant as many of the others, the 

 plumage being more or less green and alike in the two sexes. They are found 

 in the dense evergreen forests and thick plantain gardens in retired spots, and 

 subsist largely on spiders. The nest is often attached to the leaves of the plan- 

 tain, being in the Streaked Spider-hunter (A. magna) an open cup-shaped affair 

 of felted vegetable fibers, dead leaves, etc., and lined with grass and attached 

 by half its rim to the leaf by means of numerous threads. 



African Malachite Sun-bird. One of the best-known African species is the 

 Malachite Sun-bird (Nectariniafamosa), which fairly abounds in nearly all South 

 Africa. The male is a shining malachite-green, with blackish wings and tail 

 and brilliant yellow pectoral tufts; the two central tail-feathers are three inches 

 longer than the rest; the female is brownish green above and greenish yellow 

 below. In Natal, Ayres found this species in "open country, feeding upon the 

 nectar of the various kinds of aloes abounding in some localities, and also on 

 that of some species of lilies." According to Captain Shelley, " it is very com- 

 bative, and if two males meet about the same bush, a fight is sure to ensue, to 

 the great detriment of their beautiful tail-feathers." Another characteristic 

 and often brilliant African genus is Cinnyris, and from it has been selected for 

 illustration the Madagascar Sun-bird (C. notata). 



Promerops. Although there is still some doubt as to the propriety of in- 

 cluding the genus Promerops within the limits of this family, it may as well be 

 briefly mentioned here. The two species of the genus are characterized by a 

 slender, slightly curved bill which is almost double the length of the head, an 

 extremely long tail, and scale-covered tarsi; both are confined to South Africa. 

 The best-known species (P. cafer), called the Cape Long-tailed Sun-bird, has 

 the upper parts a uniform dark brown, the throat and cheeks white, fore neck 

 and chest rufous-brown, and the breast and abdomen dull whitis'h with broad, 

 dusky brown central streaks to the feathers; the length is about nineteen and 

 a half inches, of which the tail takes up some twelve or fourteen inches. It is 

 generally found in small parties, the members of which, though acting in con- 

 cert, still retain their individuality. They follow one another to favorite bushes, 

 chase each other, or feed amicably side by side, and if one flies off the rest follow. 

 It is fond of perching on the summit of high bushes, especially Proteaceae, from 

 the flowers of which it extracts its food, consisting of insects and honey. It 

 builds a cup-shaped nest of rootlets, grasses, etc., and lays Bunting-like eggs. 



THE FLOWER-PECKERS 



(Family Dic&ida) 



The Indian and Australian regions and the low islands to the eastward are 

 the headquarters of a small but highly interesting group of tiny, often brilliantly 

 plumaged, birds known as Flower-peckers, which are distinguished at once 

 from all other families of passerine birds, except the Sun-birds (NectariniidcB), 



