72 



edged with olive, and with rather paler broad ends to some of the outer feathers ; underparts uniform 

 paler ash-brown than the back, and very slightly tinted witb olive ; thighs darker and browner ; under 

 tail-coverts edged with white ; under surface of the wings brown, with the inner margins of the quills 

 and the coverts white. Total length 48 inches, culmen 075, wing 2\2, tail 1'8, tarsus 0"6. 



Hab. The mountains in West Central India. 



Vigors's Sun-bird belongs to that section of the genus yEthopi/ga in which the mantle and throat 

 are red, and the metallic portions of the crown, upper tail-coverts, and tail green. It is at once 

 distinguished from the allied species by the metallic violet patch just behind the ear-coverts, and 

 by the yellow streaks on the throat. 



It is confined to Central India, and, although not uncommon in some few localities, is very 

 local in its distribution. 



Colonel Sykes's specimens all came from the Dukhun, where he only found them frequenting 

 the lofty trees in the dense forests in the Ghats. Flies, spiders, ants, and other minute insects 

 were discovered in their crops. 



Messrs. Hume and Davison write : — " We have obtained this species both in the lower valley 

 of the Tapti, in Western Khandcish, and in the hills north of Khandeish, and in the line of 

 Ghats running down through Khandeish, and thence southward at Matheran (just above 

 Bombay), and Mahableshwar, the hill station of Poonah. How far south of Mahableshwar 

 it extends we are unable to say, but think it certainly does not get so far south as South 

 Canara, or we think we must have obtained specimens. 



"Dr. Jerdon says he obtained it in the Busta country, quite on the other side of the 

 peninsula, about the same degree of north latitude as Bombay. We are not aware that any 

 one else has met with it elsewhere than within the limits from which all our numerous specimens 

 were obtained. 



" From Mahableshwar the Bev. S. Fairbank wrote to us that he did not think this species 

 was a permanent resident there. In January and February none were to be seen ; as the 

 season advanced they began to make their appearance, becoming more and more numerous, 

 and advancing higher up the hills. It was not until May that they were at all plentiful on the 

 summits of the hills. 



% 'It seems probable that, as in the case of 2E. seherice, the birds descend during the cold 

 season, and frequent the warm wooded tracts along the western base of the Ghats ; for certainly 

 in the cold season they descend to the plains-country of the valley of the Tapti. 



" ' This Honey-sucker,' says Mr. Fairbank, ' flies very rapidly from tree to tree, and generally 

 sits upon the tops of the loftiest branches. I once saw it, however, sitting upon the under bush 

 within 10 feet of the ground. It has a very pleasing note, consisting of a rather shrill whistling 

 chirrup. This is often twice repeated in quick succession during flight.' 



" The following are measurements recorded in the flesh : — 



" Male. Length 5-75 to 6 inches, expanse 7 to 7-5, tail from vent 2T2 to 2 - 38, wing 2-5 

 to 2-62 ; weight 5 - 5 to 6 drachms. 



"Female. Length 5 to 5T2, expanse 662 to 7, tail 1-62, wing 2-25; weight 5-25 to 5-5 

 drachms. 



