210 



THE AZURE C/EEEBA. 



if seen is so liard to slioot that it is but seldom killed except by those who make it their 

 business to collect specimens. The male bird is remarkable for a broad line of the brightest 

 scarlet which extends from the top of the head along the back, and reaches nearly to the 

 extremity of the tail. The remainder of the upper surface is black, marked with green 

 upon the wing-coverts, and the lower parts are of a light buff. 



Nearly allied to the preceding species is the Fiee-beeasted Myzanthe {Myzanthe 

 {qnipectus), a bird which is remarkable as being the smallest bird of India. So very 

 small is this beautiful little bird, that an adult specimen is hardly two and a half inches in 

 total length, and weighs only three and a half drachms. In its habits it is very like the 

 Dic^eum, frequenting the tops of trees, and keeping itself well out of sight. The general 

 colour of this bird is a dark glossy green above and buff below. Upon the chest there is 

 a bold patch of bright crimson, and immediately below is a curious little black mark 

 something like a frond of seaweed in shape. It is an inhabitant of Nepal. 



The two following species of birds are 

 of small size, but are remarkable for the 

 extreme beauty of the plumage, which 

 glows with the most brilliant hues, but 

 is not endow^ed with the peculiar changing 

 tint of the Epimachi and humming-birds. 

 The first of these creatures, the Azuee 

 CyEEEBA, is a most glowing little bird, its 

 feathers being deeply and gorgeously dyed 

 with azure, verditer, and velvet-black, 

 arranged in the following bold and striking 

 manner. The crest is of a brilliant verditer- 

 blue, possessing a metallic splendour, and 

 almost flashing with emerald rays when 

 placed in a strong light. A black velvet- 

 like patch of feathers is placed on the back 

 of the head and neck, affording the most 

 decided contrast with the light plumage 

 of the crest. Another but larger patch 

 of the same deep hue occurs upon the 

 shoulder, the wings are also black, and a 

 black streak is drawn from the angle of 

 the mouth towards the back of the neck. 

 With these exceptions, the whole of the 

 body is a bright azure. 



This species is an inhabitant of Cayenne, 

 Guiana, and the neic;hbouring localities. 

 It is a little bird, hardly larger than a 

 common sparrow. 



The Azure Csereba may generally be 

 found upon the various flowering ti'ees and shrubs of its native land, where it occupies 

 its time in a perpetual search after the tiny insects that conceal themselves within the 

 newly-opened blossoms. 



In its nesting and in other parts of its economy it is a most singular bird. The nest 

 is of the pensile order, being neatly woven upon the extremity of some slender twig, 

 which sways to and fro even with the trilling weight of the mother and her tiny brood, 

 and will in nowise bear the Tieavy bodies of the various snakes and lizards that abound 

 among the branches of the trees, and keep up a relentless persecution of young nestlings and 

 eggs. The shape of the nest is not unlike that of a large "jargonelle" pear, the lower 

 extremity being produced into a long tube with the mouth below, and the eggs placed in 

 the large rounded portion of the nest. No predaceous reptile could venture itself into so 



AZUBE C^REBA.— CcBreba cudnau 



