on the Nesting of Purple Sunhirds in Captivity. 329


took advantage of this, by weaving together the wool and the rough

coir fibre. I have said that the true nest was built into the thick

end of the hanging mass of wool. The hen made a small hollow

where she desired to make her nest, which was entirely built of

cocoanut fibre drawn from unravelled coir rope and lined with tow

and a few feathers. A few straggling ends of fibre projected in an

untidy fashion over the top of the nest and so formed a sort of

canopy.


During the building of the nest, which was entirely done by

the hen, the male bird paid surreptitious visits to see how things

were going on but was quickly chased away by his mate. When

the nest was finished, and even when the eggs were laid, he was

permitted a moment or two now and then for the purpose of making

a closer inspection, on which occasions he was allowed to perch on

the side of the nest and look inside. After these inspections,

surreptitious or otherwise, he always broke out into loud and

beautiful song.


The eggs—two in number—are dull white, oval in shape, and

heavily spotted with brown on the large end. The hen sat very

steadily and never minded being looked at, but unfortunately the

eggs were not fertile. One must hope for better luck next time,

but the results obtained show that the breeding of Sunbirds is

not out of reach.


A word on food is generally looked for in accounts about

birds. My Sunbirds get the same as all my honey and pollen¬

eating birds now get, viz., unseasoned Marmite and Horlick’s Malted

Milk sweetened with sugar. The Horlick is made very thin and the

two ingredients are given either mixed or separately. A little sponge

cake is crumbled into the food and is well licked over, but I doubt if

any is eaten. A certain amount of fruit is taken, especially soft

apple and grapes. I have seen some of these birds that have access

to insectivorous food picking that over, but do not know whether

they eat any. Of course any small flies or blight are eaten greedily.



