CINNYRIS Javanica, 

 Javanese Creeper. 



Generic Character. — See PI. 95. 



Specific Character. 



C. supra nitide purpiireo-cerafa, Hubtus ulkaceo-crocea ; scapulis, 



uropygio, sfriguque laterali a rostro ad pectus descendente nitidi 



violaceis ; jugulo castaneo ; caudd nigra. 

 Above glossy metallic purple; beneath olive yellow; scapulars, 



rump, and lateral stripe from the bill to the breast, shining 



violet; throat chesnut ; tail black. 

 Nectarinia Javanica. Horstfield in Linn. Tran. vol. 13. i. p. 167. 



Under the full conviction that nature has defined, in the 

 most complete manner, the geographic limits of the various 

 tribes of birds subsisting on vegetable juices, I am par- 

 ticularly anxious to rectify any mistakes that may shake 

 this hypothesis, in which I find myself supported, in the 

 fullest manner, by the opinion of Professor Temminck, in 

 the last edition of his Manuel. 



Dr. Horsefield, in his account of the birds of Java, 

 describes two species under the names of Nectarinia Java- 

 nica and Fectoralis. It happens, however, that specimens 

 of both these birds are in my own cabinet, and have en- 

 abled me to ascertain that they are both decided species of 

 Cinnuris, perfectly agreeing with the characters laid down 

 by Cuvier, Temminck, and myself, for this group. It is 

 difficult to say how this oversight has occurred, because Dr. 

 H., just before, introduces the genus Cinni/ris, ^nd describes 

 under it two nevv species. In short, no doubt remains in 

 my own mind, that Cinnyris is a genus as strictly confined 

 to the tropical latitudes of the old, as Nectarinia is to the 

 7ieiv world. 



The figure is the size of life ; the outline of the bill will 

 illustrate the generic characters, of which one of the most 

 important is the nostrils. Nothing can exceed the richness 

 and variety of tints with which this splendid little creature 

 is ornamented; particularly on the head, which is glossed 

 alternately with lilac, sea-green, and violet, and appears as 

 if covered with some metallic substance ; the blue on the 

 wings, back, and edges of the tail is very deep, shining, 

 and glossed with purple; all the wing-feathers are edged 

 with olive, and some of the lesser quills with chesnut. 



PI. 121. 



