^^ij BlilDS OF INDIA. 



Darjeeling it appears about April in considerable numbers, 

 the males being all in the process of donning their beautiful nuptial 

 plumage ; and before it is quite perfect, most of them have left the 

 immediate vicinity of the station ; but where they go to, or in what 

 zone they breed, I could not fully determine. I did not sec them 

 there at any other season of the year ; but I killed them at the foot 

 of the hills about October. 



The next two birds belong to a group, coloured more lili:e the 

 the species of Leptocnma, but with the tail-feathers lengthened, 

 and the yellow rump of the last. Both are Himalayan forms. 



229. ^thopyga Nipalensis, Hodgs. 



Cinnyrls, apud HoDGSON, Ind. Eev. 1837— Blytii, Cat. 1355 



— lioKSP., Cat. 1070— J ARD., Nat. Libr., pi. 27 — Gould, Birds of 



Asia, pi. 



The Maroon-backed Honey-sucker. 



Descr. — Head and nape, throat, upper tail-coverts, two lengthen- 

 ed central tail-feathers, and the outer margin of the others, bril- 

 liantly glossy dark steel-green ; lores and ear-coverts black, the 

 latter glossed with purple; neck and back dark glossless maroon- 

 red ; rump bright yellow ; beneath, from the throat, yellow ; the 

 middle of the breast tinged with llame-colour ; scapulars, and 

 maroins of the wing-feathers, olive-green. 



Length 5| inches ; ext. 6f ; wing 2|- ; tail 2f ; bill at front || ; 

 tarsus not f . 



The female is uniform olive-green, faintly tinged Avith rufous, 

 pale beneath ; tail short. Young males have the glossed parts of 

 the mature bird, of a dull earthy-brown. 



This species is nearly allied to ^. Gouldics. It is found in 

 the Eastern Himalayas, from Nepal to Bootan, and is also 

 extremely common in the Khasia hills. It is the most common 

 species at Darjeeling, being often seen in gardens in the station. 

 I obtained a nest of this bird, very neatly, though loosely, made of 

 moss, domed at the top, with the entrance at the side, overhung 

 by a sort of projecting roof ; it contained two eggs of a dusky- 

 greenish tinge, with numerous small dusky spots. 



