16 AVES. 



Nectarinia Javanica (Ilorsf.). 

 „ lepida (Temm.). 



Above, from the beak to the tail, steel-blue, with purple reflec- 

 tions between the shoulders and on the head, and violet reflections 

 on the lower back and tail-covers ; the head and shoulders, when 

 held in particular lights, exhibit greenish reflections. 



A patch of dusky oil-green mixed with rufous orange covers the 

 ears, and below this a stripe of brilliant violet extends from the 

 lower mandible to the shoulders. 



Below, chin and throat copper-colour ; breast bright yellow, be- 

 coming lighter towards the tail-covers, which are pale yellow. 



Wings, quills, and greater covers, brown edged with oil-green ; 

 shoulder and lesser covers, metallic violet, separated from the greater 

 covers by a rufous band, the scapulary feathers dull brown with 

 slight violet reflections at the basal part, and broadly tipped with 

 deep rufous red. 



Tail, black, the feathers edged with violet. 

 Total length, 5^ inches. 

 Length of bill, from gape, 9 lines. 

 „ of bill, from front, 8 lines. 

 „ of wings, 2 inches 7 lines. 

 „ of tail, 1 inch 10 lines. 

 „ of tarsus, 8 lines. 

 „ of middle toe, 6^ lines. 

 „ of hallux, 6 lines. 



We have seen this bird at the south end of Labuan ; its 

 movements, as we have also observed in other species of this 

 genus, much resemble those of the English Titmice. 



Nectarinia Cingalensis (Gray). 



„ phoenicotis. 



Souimanga oreillon violet (Temm.). 



Male ; above, uniform brilliant metallic green. 



Below, chin, neck, and breast, burnt sienna colour, flanks, belly, 



ful plant of Russelia juncca just before my office-window, clinging to the slender twigs 

 in all sorts of positions, and turning up the scarlet bells to insert their fairy little beaks : 

 they appear very sociable little birds, never passing one another without putting their 

 beaks together with a little chirp. If any one comes too near, off they go like 

 meteors, but are back in a minute. I think I never saw anything more beautiful 

 than this plant (whose beauty you cannot imagine from green-house specimens) : its 

 long pendant twigs are one blaze of scarlet blossoms for months together, with half-a- 

 dozen of these living gems flitting among them. I often sit and watch them, and 

 wish I could place them some fine morning before your window ; birds, flowers, 

 broad sunshine and all." — L.L.D. 



