1GB 



given by Bernstein and Hume ; and from the colouring of the egg he describes, I should doubt its 

 really belonging to this species. 



Messrs. Motley and Dillwyn, in their charming work (Contr. Nat. Hist. Labuan, p. 15), of 

 which unfortunately only one part ever appeared, remark concerning this bird : — " Our specimens 

 were shot on a Mimosa-like tree, overhanging the sea-beach, where they were very busy among 

 the branches, in company with a great variety of small birds ; they appeared to be hunting some 

 insects, and in their manner and attitudes much resembled our English Tits." In a letter 

 Mr. Motley says : — " I think that there is no doubt that this lively little bird feeds almost 

 entirely on honey ; three or four of them frequent all day long a beautiful plant of Russelia 

 juncea just before my office window, clinging to the slender twigs in all sorts of positions, and 

 turning up the scarlet bells to insert their fairy little beaks ; they appear very sociable little 

 birds, never passing one another without putting their beaks together with a little chirp. If 

 any one comes too near, off they go like meteors, but are back in a minute. I think I never saw 

 any thing more beautiful than this plant ; its long pendent twigs are one blaze of scarlet blossoms 

 for months together, with half a dozen of these living gems flitting around them. I often sit 

 and watch them, and wish I could place them before your window — birds, flowers, broad sun- 

 shine, and all." 



From Lord Tweeddale's magnificent series of this species I have examined specimens from 

 all the localities here mentioned, and can detect no appreciable difference in specimens from any 

 of these places, the extent of the metallic forehead and the almost entire absence of non-metallic 

 pectoral band being extremely constant characters. 



The Javan bird, Horsfield's type of his JSfectarinia pectoralis, afterwards received the name 

 of Nectarinia eximia from Temminck, from whose plate Lesson described his Cinnyris orndtus, 

 while to the bird from the Sunda island Lesson gave his title of Cinnyris luteoventer. 



