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The present species belongs to the purple-backed section of my " dark-metallic " group, or, in 

 other words, to the Indian species of this group which formed the genus Arachnechthra, Cabanis. 

 The characters by which the present species may be at once recognized are the long and very 

 strongly curved bill and the brown abdomen. 



There appear to be two races, viz. the Ceylon race, with the bill generally longer and more 

 curved, and with the pectoral tufts usually paler, often without any signs of the bright scarlet 

 which is generally to be met with in the continental birds. Although it is well not to neglect 

 remarking upon these races, they should not, in my opinion, be separated specifically, more than 

 the Ceylon and continental races of Cinnyris zeylonicus or the eastern and western races of 

 C. asiaticus (C. brevirostris and C. intermedins). 



Of its distribution Messrs. Hume and Davison write to me : — " As far as our present know- 

 ledge goes, this species is confined to Ceylon and the Indian peninsula south of 15° north 

 latitude. It is a bird of the plains, and does not ascend the hills, but is common in localities 

 such as Calicut, Trinchinopoly, Salem, and Madras itself." 



The type specimen, an adult male, was sent home by Governor Loten from Ceylon. In this 

 island, according to Mr. Layard, it is very plentiful, especially in the southern and midland 

 districts, and constructs a nest exactly similar to that of C. asiaticus. In the south-eastern 

 division of Ceylon it is said by Captain W. V. Legge (Ibis, 1875, p. 275) to be partially represented 

 by the much more numerous C. asiaticus. At Colombo Mr. Holdsworth found it to be very 

 common ; but, he observes, " I have no note of its occurrence at Aripo. Some specimens have 

 the bill very much curved." 



At Galle Mr. Swinhoe met with it in April, and believes it was then breeding in the neigh- 

 bourhood ; " the gizzard," he observes, " contained a number of small Pipulas (hairy long-legs) 

 entire." This shows that although spiders and honey are the more usual food of all the species 

 of Sun-birds, they do not refuse to capture any soft and suitable-sized insects which may come in 

 their way. 



On the Indian peninsula, according to Dr. Jerdon, " it is common along the Malabar coast, 

 and also tolerably so in the more wooded parts of the Carnatic, as about Madras and other large 

 towns. It frequents both jungles and gardens. At Tellicherry I have seen it frequently enter 

 my verandah to feed upon spiders. I have not observed it elsewhere in India." 



Seba tells a story, which has frequently been repeated by the older writers, that the young 

 of this bird often falls a prey to the great spider (Aranea avicularia) ; and Latham adds : — " This 

 is not peculiar to the brood of this species ; for it is the case with respect to every other when- 

 ever the insect can gain the superiority." Doubtless the large spider, if he could gain the 

 superiority, would enjoy the meal; but I cannot conceive any spider having much chance against 

 these long sharp-billed active little birds ; and so constant is the attendance of the parent birds 

 upon their young, that few indeed must be the opportunities left for the spider to approach the 

 young unobserved. 



The figures of the adult male and female, as well as my description of the female and male 

 in moult, are taken from a mainland bird, while my description of the adult male is from a 

 Ceylon specimen. 



