154 THE AUSTRALIAN DICTUM. 



of its plumage, and the restless activity of its movements, adds mxicli to the beauty of the 

 wondrous scenery among which it dwells. It is found spread over the whole of Brazil, 

 and may always be found haunting the blossoming trees and i^lants, dashing to and fro 

 with its glancing flight, hovertag with tremulous wing over the flowers while undetermined 

 in its choice, and plunging its long beak eagerly into their newly-opened blossoms, where 

 it finds its food. It is not known to feed while on the wing, as is the case with the humming- 

 birds, but perches near or uj)on the flower, and clings with its strong little feet while taking 

 its meal. 



The Blue-headed Honey-sucker deiives its name from the azure-blue which decorates its 

 head, and which is very changeable in different lights. The throat, the back, the tail, and 

 the wings are black, except that the quill-feathers are edged with blue. The female bird does 

 not i^ossess the beautiful tints of her mate, the gi'eater part of her plumage being green, tinged 

 with blue upon the head and the scapularies ; the throat is gray. This bird is knowTi by 

 several other titles, such as the Cayenne Warbler, the Blue-headed Warbler, and the Blue- 

 headed Creeper. 



Largest of all the group, the Malachite Sun-bird has long attracted the attention of 

 ornithologists, on account of its great comparative size and its beautiful plumage. 



It is one of the African species, being an inhabitant of the Cape of Good Hope, where it 

 remains throughout the entire year, and is in the habit of frequenting tlie gardens, and soon 

 becomes familiar with the proprietors, provided that it be not disturbed. Sometimes the 

 Malachite Sun-birds take a violent fancy to some particular shrul) or tree, and may be seen in 

 flocks of forty or fifty in number congregating upon its branches and amusing themselves 

 among its blossoms. Day after day these birds may be seen in the same spot, attracted by 

 some irresistible though obscure charm resident in the tree which they favor. The nest of 

 this species is composed of very tiny twigs covered with moss, and contains four^ or five 

 green eggs. 



The title of Malacliite Sun-bird has been given to this creature on account of the brilliant 

 malachite green of its jilumage. 



The male bird when dressed in full nuptial costume is a remarkably handsome "bird, and 

 is nearly double the length of any other species, often exceeding nine inches in total length. 

 The whole of the upper surface is rich golden-green marked with a reddish bronze. The 

 feathers of the throat and forehead are of the same hue, but of so deep a tone that they 

 appear to be velvety -black at first sight, and are so constructed that they have a velvet-like 

 feel to the touch as well as to the sight. Whenever the bird moves, even by the act of respira- 

 tion, waves of bright hues seem to ripple upon its surface, caused by the peculiar coloring of 

 the feathers, which are black at their bases and colored at their extremities. The wings and 

 tail are black, and the secondaries and wing-coverts are edged with green and violet. There 

 is a tuft of bright yellow feathers under each shoulder. 



The female is much smaller than her mate, and is of a dull olive-brovra, except the exte- 

 rior feathers of the tail, which are edged with white. 



Among other long-tailed Sun-birds may be mentioned Nectarinia puleliella, which may 

 be known by its green-edged black tail-feathers and the bright double collar of carmine and 

 golden-yellow that runs across the chest. Another species, also long-tailed, Nectarinia 

 platura, is remar]s;able for the brilliant golden-yellow of the breast and abdomen, and the rich 

 violet-purple of tlie upper tail-coverts. 



The beautiful little Dictum, although very common throughout the whole of Australia, 

 and a remarkably interesting little bird, was, when Mr. Gould wrote his animated description, 

 so little known among the colonists that there was no i)opular name for the bright little 

 creature. 



This tiny bird is fond of inhabiting the extreme summits of the tallest trees, and habitually 

 dwells at so great an elevation that its iiunute form is hardly perceptible, and not even the 

 bright scarlet hue of the throat and breast can betray its position to the unaccustomed eye of 



