

•iO 



feed quite as much on insects as on nectar. They may be often found in low brushwood, 

 especially in the thickets of the wild raspberry, and along the outskirts of all the sholas, or strips 

 of jungle which run down every ravine on the hill-side. About the Chinchona plantations they 

 are so numerous when the trees are in flower in November, you might probably shoot a dozen 

 specimens any morning off a single tree. 



" There is scarcely any appreciable difference in the size of the sexes ; but the males are 

 possibly a trifle larger. 



"Male. Length 3*5 to 4 inches, expanse 5*37 to 6, tail from vent 1 to 1*25, wing 1*8 to T95, 

 tarsus - 43 to - 5, bill at front from margin of feathers 0*43 to 0"5. 



"The females average from 3"25 to 3-5, with an expanse of 5"5 ; and their bills are, as a 

 rule, slightly shorter than those of the males." 



Mr. Hume further remarks (Str. F. 1877, p. 42) : — " This beautiful little bird is common on 

 the edges of forest, and is slightly gregarious in habit, three or four hunting about together 

 amongst the boughs of some gamboge tree, which is a tree they seem particularly to like. They 

 are not at all shy ; and when sitting quiet in thick brushwood, I have seen them perch inquisi- 

 tively within a few feet of my face. I have not obtained the eggs of this species; but Mr. 

 Ferguson observed a pair commence a hanging nest at the extreme end of a gamboge-bough at 

 some height from the ground. Unfortunately the birds left the nest unfinished." 



Colonel Sykes, who first described this species, writes : — " Met with only in the Ghauts. 

 White ants and larvae of flies were found in the stomach. One bird was seen sucking honey." 

 Dr. Jerdon (I. c.) observes : — " This beautiful little species has only been found on the west coast 

 of India, extending from about 18° N. lat. to Travancore, and passing over into Ceylon. Layard 

 states that it replaces N. zeylonica in the north of the island. It is by no means common. I 

 have seen it up to nearly 3000 feet on the slopes of the Nilgherries, and also near the level of 

 the sea in Malabar." 



In Ceylon it has been procured by Mr. Holdsworth, who remarks (P. Z. S. 1872, p. 434) : — 

 " I do not remember seeing this bird in the Aripo district, although Mr. Layard states that it is 

 common in the north of the island. It is occasionally seen at Colombo." 



In the Marquis of Tweeddale's collection I have examined specimens from the Mahab- 

 leshwar hills collected by Colonel Sturt, which I have here figured and described. He also 

 possesses a female marked " breeding " from Kunkunbe, in the Goa hills, and a specimen from 

 Belgaum. 



