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On the Amethyst Sunbird.



gradually appears. The metallic lilac feathers of the upper tail

coverts are assumed later, and those on the bend of the wing last

of all.


* -A-


By A. Ezra.


I consider this beautiful bird, though of sombre colours, one

of the handsomest of the African Sunbirds. In perfect plumage

the cock bird is a beautiful velvet black with metallic purple on

shoulders, tail coverts and throat. The crown a bright metallic

emerald green. They do not go into eclipse plumage, but when

moulting the bird loses its velvet black, becoming a dull black, but

in a few weeks is in full plumage again.* In good light it is a

marvellously rich colour, and to do the bird full justice it has to be

seen at close quarters. The hen has olive wings with a dark brown

tail of which the outer feathers are tipped with white. Eyebrows

and breast buff, the latter mottled by dark feathers. Throat a dusky

black. A young cock in immature plumage is similar to an adult

hen but with the throat jet black. I have had a couple of these

exquisite birds for eighteen months and they have done splendidly

never causing me the slightest anxiety. They are undoubtedly quite

hardy and very easy to keep. Both the sexes have a broken loud

song which is not at all unpleasant. Of all my Sunbirds these are

the only two that eat only the syrup and grapes, thriving on it, and

refusing spiders and green flies which all the others devour with

relish. They always look in perfect trim and are most peaceful in

my Sunbird aviary, in which I have about twenty Sunbirds of eight

different species.


A couple of days ago I found one of my tiny Indian Amethyst-

rumped Sunbirds sitting on the back of the Amethystinus on the

floor of the aviary, fighting him and pulling out several of his

tail feathers, and the larger bird allowed it without making the

slightest attempt to protect himself or to get away. The culprit

was caught at once and caged separately and I hope this punish¬

ment will cure him of his bad temper. Strange to say the Indian

Amethyst-rumped Sunbird seems to be the most pugnacious and



* Shelley writes of this bird as assuming its full breeding plumage. This

sounds as if there is something corresponding to an eclipse plumage.—ED.



