157 



CINNYEIS ANDAMANICUS. 



(ANDAMAN SUN-BIRD.) 



Arachnechthra frenata, Ball, J. A. S. B. xli. p. 280 (1872); id. Str. F. 1873, p. 65. 

 Arachnechthra Jlammaxillarisl, Walden, Ibis, 1873, p. 312. 



Arachnechthra andamanica, Hume, Str. F. 1873, p. 404; id. Str. F. 1874, pp. 60, 105, 109, 

 198. 



3 ad. supra C. flammaxillari similis : capite laterali pileo concolori : supercilio indistincto pallide flavo : subtus 

 pallidissime flavus : mento gulaque saturate metallice violaceis, lateraliter smaragdineo anguste margi- 

 natis : torque praepectorali sordide coccineo olivaceo lavato : fasciis pectoralibus lsete flavis. 



2 ad. similis mari adulto, sed subtus palfide flava : supercilio magis distincto. 



(3 juv. similis feminse adultse, sed supercilio minus distincto et gutture medio saturate violaceo. 



Hab. in insulis Andamanicis. 



Adult Male. Similar in colour above to C. flammaxillaris ; sides of tbe bead of tbe same colour as the 

 crown, with an indistinct pale yellow eyebrow; underparts very pale yellow; cbin and throat deep 

 metallic violet, rather narrowly edged on the sides with emerald-green ; at the base of the metallic 

 throat a narrow olive-shaded maroon collar ; pectoral tufts bright yellow ; bill and legs black ; irides 

 dark brown. Total length 4 - 2 inches, culmen - 85, wing 2*1, tail 1'6, tarsus 0*6. 



Adult Female. Similar in plumage to the adult male, excepting that the entire underparts are uniform very 

 pale yellow, and the eyebrow is more distinct. Total length 4"35 inches, culmen - 8, wing 2"0, tail 

 1'35, tarsus 0'6. 



Young Male. Similar in plumage to the adult female, the eyebrow not quite so distinct; a broad deep 

 metallic violet band down the middle of the throat. 



Hab. Andaman Islands. 



The Andaman Sun-bird is most nearly related to C. flammaxillaris, from which it differs in 

 having the bill longer and stronger, in the paler colour of the breast and axillary tufts, the latter 

 being uniform gamboge-yellow with no shade of orange or red, in the sides of the metallic throat 

 being green instead of blue, and in the less extent of the non-metallic breast-band. 



It is confined to the Andamans, and is apparently very abundant in all the islands of that 

 group. The figures in the Plate and my descriptions are taken from specimens collected by 

 Lieut. Wardlaw-Ramsay, and kindly lent to me by the Marquess of Tweeddale, who possesses a 

 fine series of this species. A study of these skins convinces me that Mr. Hume was right in 

 separating the bird specifically from the other yellow-breasted Sun-birds. 



Mr. Hume, while visiting the Andamans in company with Mr. Davison, crossed over to 

 Barren Island, situated about one degree east of Middle Andaman. On this small island, a 



Q2 



