CINNYEIS OSEA. 



(PALESTINE SUN-BIRD.) 



Cinnyris osea, Bp. Comptes Rendus, xlii, pt. 2, p. 765 (1856). 



Nectarinia osea, Tristram, Ibis, 1862, p. 278; id. Ibis, 1864, p. 230; id. P. Z. S. 1864, 

 p. 445; id. Ibis, 1865, p. 72, pi. 2; Gould, B. Asia, part 19 (1867); Tristram, Ibis, 

 1868, p. 334; Gray, Hand-1. B. i, p. 106, no. 1287 (1869); Sharpe, Cat. Air. B. p. 40, 

 no. 373 (1871); Elwes, P. Z. S. 1873, p. 645. 



<3 ad. supra metallic! viridis, tectricibus alarum minimis et medianis dorso eoncoloribus, majoribus et remi- 

 gibus brunneis, his vix olivascenti lavatis : supracaudalibus metallic! chalybeis : rectricibus purpureo- 

 nigris, extiis angust! metallic! viridi marginatis : f'ronte et vertice metallic! violaceis, postic! vix 

 viridescente : facie laterali et regione parotica metallic! viridibus : macula triangulari anteoculari nigra : 

 genis anticis gutture et pectore metallic! violaceis, gutture imo et laterali viridescente : corpore reliquo 

 subtiis nigro, plumis indistinct! indigotico limbatis : fasciis pectoralibus lset! scarlatinis, basaliter flavis : 

 subalaribus fuscis, margine alari metallic! viridi : rostro et pedibus nigris : iride saturat! brunnea. 



2 ad. supra pallid! cinerascenti-brunnea, alis brunneis, plumis dorsi colore marginatis : supracaudalibus nigri- 

 canti-brunneis, sordid! metallic! viridi marginatis : rectricibus nigricantibus, medianis sordid! viridi 

 marginatis, omnibus palbd! brunneo terminatis, exterioribus latius : facie laterali dorso concolori, 

 regione parotica vix saturatiiis brunnea : strig& supraoculari minuta indistincta fusco-albida : genis et 

 corpore subtiis toto pallid! cinerascentibus, subcaudalibus albicantioribus basaliter saturat! brunneis : 

 abdomine medio flavicanti lavato : hypochondriis vix saturatioribus olivaceo paullo adumbratis : sub- 

 alaribus pallid! cinerascentibus. 



Hab. in Palaestina. 



Adult Male. Upper parts metallic green including the least and median series of wing-coverts ; remainder 

 of the wings dark brown with a greenish gloss ; forehead and front of the crown metallic violet 

 gradually shading into green posteriorly; upper tail-coverts partially glossed with steel-blue; tail 

 black, the feathers edged with metallic green ; sides of the head metallic green with a triangular patch 

 of black feathers in front of the eye ; chin, upjjer throat, and a broad collar metallic violet gradually 

 shading into metallic bluish green about the middle of the throat; pectoral tufts bright scarlet and 

 sulphur-yellow ; remainder of the under surface of the body brownish black, with the feathers on the 

 chest partially glossed with metallic green on their edges ; under surface of the wings dark brown, with 

 pale inner margins to the quills and with the coverts black; bill and legs black; irides dark brown. 

 Total length 4 - 4 inches, culmen - 7, wing 2'1, tail V7, tarsus 0"6. 



Adult Female. Upper parts light brown, as well as the sides of the head and neck ; wings darker brown 

 with pale brown edges to all the feathers ; upper tail-coverts dark brown with the edges of the feathers 

 glossed with metallic green ; tail brownish black, the feathers narrowly edged with metallic green and 

 with narrow pale ends, broadest on the outer ones; underparts brownish buff, slightly darker and 

 browner on the lower throat and on the flanks; under tail-coverts with narrow dark-brown shaft- 

 stripes; under surface of the wings dark brown, with the inner margins of the quills and the coverts 



2m 



