1? 



-ffiTHOPYGA TEMMINCKL 



(TEMMINCK'S YELLOW-BACKED SUN-BIRD.) 



Nectarinia temmincki, S. Mull. Natuurl. Gesch. Land- en Volkenk. p. 173, note (1843); 



S. Mull. & Schl. Verh. Nat. Gesch. Aves, p. 56, pi. 8, fig. 2 (1846); Gray, Gen. B. i, 



p. 98 (1847); Bp. Consp. Av. i, p. 405, no. 15 (1850); id. Comptes Eendus, 1854, 



p. 265 ; Schl. Handb. Dierk. p. 256 (1857). 

 JEthopyga temmincM, Reichb. Handb. Scansoriee, p. 300, no. 702, pi. 584, fig. 3967 (1854) ; 



Walden, Ibis, 1870, p. 33 ; Elwes, P. Z. S. 1873, p. 679; Sharpe, Ibis, 1878, p. 419. 

 Promerops temmmcki, Gray, Hand-1. B. i, p. 110, no. 1347 (1869). 



d ad. supra lsete scarlatinus, pileo Isetiore fascia O-formi metallice violacea ornato : tectricibus alarum dorso 

 concoloribus : remigibus brunneis, extus olivaceis, primariis rubro lavatis : uropygio sulfureo : supra- 

 caudalibus metallice violaceis : rectricibus centralibus scarlatinis, reliquis saturate brunneis extus 

 scarlatino lavatis : facie laterali, gutture et pectore scarlatinis, vitta nialari metallice violacea : corpore 

 reliquo subtus cinereo, subcaudalibus flavidis : subalaribus et remigum margine interne- albidis. 



Hab. in insulis " Sumatra " et " Borneo " dictis. 



Adult Male. Upper parts bright blood-red ; centre of the forehead and crown carmine-red margined by a 

 broad metallic violet band in the shape of a horseshoe, ending on the sides at the nostrils ; lower back 

 sulphur-yellow, partially covered by the loose dusky olive feathers from the middle of the back ; upper 

 tail-coverts metallic violet ; tail — centre feathers and the outer webs of the others carmine-red, remainder 

 of the tail dark brown ; wings dark brown with the least and median series of coverts and broad edges 

 to the greater coverts blood-red like the back, edges of the quills rufous-shaded olive ; chin, throat, 

 and front of the chest carmine-red ; moustachial band metallic violet ; remainder of the chest and the 

 abdomen silvery grey ; the flanks almost white ; thighs and under tail-coverts tinted with olive-yellow; 

 under surface of the wings dark brown with pale inner margins to the quills and with the coverts 

 white; bill, hides, and legs dark brown. Total length 49 inches, culmen - 6, wing 2 - 15, tail 2'3, 

 tarsus 0"55. 



Hab. Sumatra and Borneo. 



The following characters will distinguish this lovely species : — tail red, centre of the forehead 

 and crown red nearly encircled by a broad horseshoe-shaped patch of metallic violet feathers ; 

 remainder of the upper parts and the throat as in JE. siparaja ; abdomen silvery grey. 



The type specimen, described by S. Miiller, came from Sumatra, where it inhabits the dense 

 forests which clothe the mountain-ranges of that island; but it appears to be a very scarce 

 species, but few examples existing in any collection. Mr. E. C. Buxton, who collected most of 

 the Sumatran species of Sun-birds, did not meet with this bird in the Lam pong district. 



Until quite recently it was supposed to be a form peculiar to the island of Sumatra; but 



