

NectaropMla zeylonica, Reichb. torn. cit. p. 282. no. 655, pi. 570. figs. 3885-87, pi. 569. 



figs. 3881-82(1854); Walden, Ibis, 1870, p. 37; Holdsworth, P. Z. S. 1872, p. 434; 



Morgan, Ibis, 1875, p. 315. 

 Arachnothem nigralba, Gray, Hand-1. B. i. p. 113. no. 1402 (1869). 



6 ad. capite summo et tectricibus alarum minimis bronzino-viridibus : dorso cum tectricibus alarum majoribus 

 et torque pectorali cbocolatinis : dorso postico et gutture metallice lilacinis : remigibus saturate brun- 

 neis, rufo marginatis : cauda nigra : corpore reliquo subtus sulphureo, hypochondriis albicantibus : 

 rostro et pedibus nigris : bide rufescenti-brunnea. 



2 ad. mari dissimilis : supra cinerascenti-brunnea : remigibus saturate brunneis, rufo marginatis : cauda, nigra, 

 rectricibus externis albo terminatis : subtus ut in mari colorata, gula et pectore superiore albis. 



d juv. similis fcemina? adultre, sed gutture et pectore superiore pallide flavicantibus. 



Hab. in peninsula Indica et in insula Ceylonensi. 



Adult Male. Above — forebead, crown, nape, and lesser wing-coverts metallic bronzy green, glossed with 

 lilac; upper back, scapulars, and median wing-coverts maroon-brown ; lower back and upper tail- 

 coverts metallic lilac, sbaded with blue ; tad brownish black, the outer feathers with paler ends, the 

 other feathers very slightly edged with metallic violet ; remainder of the wings dark brown, the greater 

 coverts and quills edged with rufous brown; cheeks and ear-coverts deep coppery brown, slightly 

 metallic, shading into dull brown behind the ear-coverts. Beneath sulphur-yellow, chin and throat 

 metallic lilac ; sides of the neck and a pectoral collar maroon-brown like the back ; sides of the body, 

 the under wing-coverts, and inner margins of the quills white ; beak and legs black ; irides reddish 

 brown. Total length 4*1 inches, culmen 0G5, wing 225, tail 1-45, tarsus 075. 



Adult Female. Above ashy brown shaded with olive on the lower back ; a white eyebrow, and a dark streak 

 through the eye ; upper tail-coverts and tail brownish black, the former slightly edged with steel-blue, 

 the latter with pale endings to some of the outer feathers ; wings dark brown, the quills and greater 

 coverts edged with rufous brown. Beneath white, with the chest and centre of the abdomen sulphur- 

 yellow, the under tail-coverts washed with that colour ; under surface of the wings brown, with the 

 coverts and inner margins of the quills white ; bill and legs black ; irides reddish brown. Total length 

 36 inches, culmen OG, wing 2 - l, tad l - 4, tarsus 06. 



Young Male. Similar to the adult female, excepting that it is less ashy above and slightly more olive-brown 

 in colour; the eyebrows yellowish; chin, throat, and under tail-coverts sulphur-yellow. Total length 

 39 inches, culmen 05, wing 20, tail T2, tarsus O'G. 



Hab. Ceylon, the Indian peninsula, and Assam, but apparently not found in the Himalayas, Nepaul, 

 North-western Provinces, or Scinde. 



Dr. Jerdon, in his highly esteemed and very useful work on the Birds of India, observes : — 

 " This species is spread throughout India, from the extreme south to Bengal, and is apparently 

 not found in the North-west Provinces. It extends through Dacca into Assam. It is exceedingly 

 abundant in Madras, more so, I think, than in Lower Bengal. It may be seen in every garden 

 Hitting from flower to flower ; and it builds a very neat nest of grass, vegetable fibres, spiders' 

 web sometimes, with a hole at the side near the top, overshadowed by a canopy of the same 



