133 



the kindness of the latter gentleman I am indebted for my being able to figure the adult female 

 and young male of this species, as well as for the loan of four other beautiful new species of 

 Sun-birds with which his energy first made us acquainted. He also procured it in the islands of 

 Guimaras and Negros. 



xlccording to Dr. Meyer the iris is yellowish brown ; two specimens of his collecting are 

 recorded by the Marquis of Tweeddale (Tr. Z. S. ix. p. 200), who remarks : — " One has the head 

 golden green, the uropygium and upper tail-coverts pure brilliant metallic green, the throat 

 violet. The other has the head coppery green, the uropygium and upper tail-coverts violet- 

 green, and the throat purple." 



Reichenbach enumerates Certkia sperata, Linn., C. affinis, Shaw, and Nectarinia coccini- 

 gastra, Temm., as three distinct species; but I concur with the Marquis of Tweeddale (Ibis, 

 1S70, p. 43), where he says, iC setting aside the extreme improbability of three closely allied, yet 

 distinct, species of this isolated form coexisting at Manilla, it seems pretty clear that the slight 

 discrepancies to be found on comparing the original descriptions result from the difficulty of 

 noting the iridescent hues of metallic plumage." We may add to these remarks that the 

 metallic colours are liable to be affected by the atmosphere,- according to the length of time that 

 these feathers have been worn, and more especially in the preserved specimens which have been 

 exposed to strong sunlight or to damp ; and I come to the conclusion that there is but one species 

 of this form, confined to the Philippine Islands, which is subject to slight, but quite unimportant, 

 variations in the shades of the metallic plumes. 



