1 16 



specimen (p. 312) as distinct, but does not give it a name. It is labelled male, but is in a dress 

 similar to that of the female ; and its only known specific character lies in the bill being wider 

 at the base than in any other species of this group yet described. 



Besides the localities above mentioned, C. aspasice has been collected by Dr. Meyer at Andai 

 (foot of Arfak Mountains), at Nappan, and at Rubi (coast of Geelvink Bay) ; and by Miiller 

 at Lobo. 



Of the localities wrongly assigned to this bird we have Macassar and Banda Island 

 (S. Miiller). Undoubtedly the specimens collected in the former locality should be referred 

 to C. porphyrolcemus ; and those collected by him in the latter island probably belong to the 

 Ceram form (C. aspasioides). The specimens mentioned by Von Rosenberg from the Kei Islands 

 should no doubt belong, as Count Salvadori has already remarked, to C. theresice. 



Very little has ever been written upon the habits of this species. Lesson mentions it as 

 frequenting the woods which surround the Port of Dorey, where he collected the type specimens ; 

 and S. Miiller tells us that he found it in habits to be very similar to Chalcostetha insignis, 

 frequenting the coast in the vicinity of streams and marshes, constantly flitting among the aquatic 

 shrubs and plants, where, although active in its habits, it was not shy. 



A nest collected by Von Rosenberg in the vicinity of Dorey contained two eggs, and has 

 been described by Bernstein as similar to that of Chalcostetha insignis, about 6 inches in length, 

 of an oval form, widening below, and suspended by a narrow thread from the extremity of a 

 twig. It was constructed of leaves, fibres, and bark interwoven with spider's web and caterpillar- 

 silk, by which it was attached to the overhanging bough, and was prevented from slipping off by 

 the two end leaves being thus secured and interwoven into the sides of the nest. The entrance 

 to the nest was an oval hole at one side. The eggs were transparent white, with a few small black 

 spots towards the thick end only. 



Count Salvadori (Atti R. Ace. Tor. x. p. 223) points out very clearly that the name Nectarinia 

 amasia was a lapsus calami of Miiller, or was a printer's error, amasia being printed instead of 

 aspasia; for in the index we find iV". aspasia cited for page 22, and the name is not found in 

 Miiller and Schlegel's later work. 



In Mr. Godman's collection I have seen two specimens of C. aspasice labelled Cape York, 

 on the authority of Mr. Cockerell ; and doubting the correctness of the locality, I wrote to 

 Mr. Ramsay, in Australia, upon the subject, who kindly writes: — "With regard to C. aspasia; 

 Mr. Thorpe, who skinned the whole, and collected the greater part, of the birds obtained by 

 Thorpe and Cockerell at Cape York, assures me that no other Sun-bird, except C. frenatus 

 [N. australis, Gould), was obtained there by them. Cockerell, sen., on his way from the Aru 

 Islands to Brisbane, called in at Cape York ; and I examined the whole of his collection at 

 Brisbane on his return. He showed me many wonderful species said to have been shot at Cape 

 York, amongst others Henicoperius longicauda, Ardca heliosglos, and Cinnyris aspasia?. These 

 two latter he made Mr. Diggles believe he got there ; and they were accordingly figured by him 

 as new Australian birds. Mr. James Cockerell, who accompanied his father to the Aru Islands, 

 informs me that C. aspasia; was not shot at Cape York." 



