6 cassell's book of birds. 



most striking ornaments of the woods, groves, or gardens they inhabit, whilst their intelHgence 

 renders the study of their habits extremely interesting. During the greatest part of the year they 

 live in pairs, which occasionally associate into small parties during the breeding season. The nests 

 of the Honeysuckers are constructed with great skill, and are usually suspended from thin branches 

 or twigs. The eggs, which are few in number, are of a pure white. 



THE ABU-RISCH. 



The Abu-Risch i^Hedydipna metallicd) represents a group recognisable by their slightly-curved 

 beak, scarcely equalling the head in length ; their comparatively short wings, in which the second, 

 third, fourth, and fifth quills are of equal length ; and their wedge-shaped tail, the two centre feathers 

 of which are usually considerably prolonged. The male is of a metallic green on the head, throat, 

 back, and shoulder-covers ; the under side is bright yellow, a line upon the breast and the rump have 

 a violet sheen ; the quills and tail-feathers are blackish blue, the eye brown, and the beak and feet 

 black. The back of the female is of a light olive-brown, and her under side sulphur-yellow ; her 

 quills and tail-feathers have light edges. The young resemble the mother, but are of a paler hue. 

 The length of this species is six inches, of which three and a half belong to the centre tail-feathers, 

 the rest do not exceed thirteen and a quarter ; the wings measure two inches and one-sixth. The 

 Abu-Risch is met with in all such parts of Africa as afford it the shelter of its favourite mimosa-trees, 

 upon and around which it may literally be said to spend its whole existence. Early in the morning, 

 and towards the close of the day, it usually perches quietly among the branches, and only displays its 

 full vivacity during the noontide heat, when it flutters rapidly from blossom to blossom, in search of 

 food, singing and chirping briskly as it flies in cheerful companionship with its almost inseparable 

 mate. The song of the male is pleasing, and accompanied by a great variety of gesticulations and 

 attitudes, calculated to exhibit his crest and plumage in all their varied beauty to the admiring gaze of 

 the female, who usually endeavours to imitate her partner, but, owing to the comparative dullness 

 of her colours, with a far less imposing result. In Southern Nubia the breeding season commences in 

 March or April. The nest, which is variously formed, is neatly and skilfully woven with cotton-wool 

 and similar materials, and lined with hair or spiders' webs. This pretty little structure is usually 

 suspended from the end of a branch, at no great height from the ground, and is entered by an 

 aperture at the side, frequently so situated that the leaves of the branch overhang and shade the 

 entrance hole. Both parents work busily in constructing this snug apartment for their young, and 

 have seldom completed their labours in less than a fortnight's time. The eggs, which are oval in 

 shape, and white, are incubated by the female alone. 



The FIRE HONEYSUCKERS (^Ihopyga), the Indian representatives of the above group, 

 are recognisable by the comparative thinness of their short but distinctly curved beak. In their wings 

 the fourth quill exceeds the rest in length ; the tail is wedge-shaped at its sides, and furnished with 

 two long and slender feathers in its centre. The plumage of the male is enlivened by brightly-tinted 

 stripes on the cheeks, while that of the female is sombre, and almost of uniform tint. 



THE CADET. 

 The Cadet {ALthopyga miles), one of the most beautiful members of this family, is blood-red 

 on the back ; the throat and upper part of the breast are of a somewhat paler crimson ; the top of the 

 head is violet, with a bright, metallic, green lustre. The nape is deep olive-yellow, and the belly 

 pale greenish yellow; a steel-blue line, that becomes gradually broader, passes from the corners of the 

 mouth to the sides of the neck ; the quills are brown, edged with olive ; the two centre tail-feathers 



