

The peculiarity in the colouring of this bird is such that it cannot be confounded with any other 

 known Sun-bird, the breast being broadly striped with dark brown on a pale yellow ground, 

 while the metallic colours are confined, in the male, to a band across the back of the neck, and 

 the lower back and upper tail-coverts, these parts only being steel-blue. 



Although I retain it in the genus Anthreptes on account of the straight keel of the lower 

 mandible, it is rather an aberrant form, and may be regarded as a link between the above-named 

 genus and the "olive" group of Cinnyris. It was, indeed, made into a separate genus (Hypo- 

 gramma) by Reichenbach. 



It inhabits the Malayan region, and is, according to Muller, found in Sumatra and Borneo, 

 in the plains as well as in the mountain-forests. From Lieut. Wardlaw Ramsay's valuable notes 

 attached to his specimen from Malacca, and from a Marup skin of Mr. Everett's, I have taken 

 the colours of the soft parts in my present description, as well as the entire length of the adult 

 male in the flesh, which is nearly half an inch longer than the measurement of the dried skin. 

 At Penang it has been collected by Cantor, and at Singapore by Doria. In Borneo it appears to 

 be plentiful in the north-western district, whence I have seen several specimens collected by 

 Mr. Low ; and it is recorded from Sarawak by Doria and Beccari, and from Marup by Everett. 

 Thus it will be seen that the range assigned to this species by Lord Walden (Ibis, 1870, p. 31) has 

 been fully confirmed ; but I would observe that there still remains a great lack of information 

 concerning the habits of this interesting and very peculiarly coloured Sun-bird. 



Messrs. Hume and Davison's notes have fortunately just arrived in time for me to add them 

 here : — •" This species," they inform me, " is found in Tenasserim, so far as we yet know, only to 

 the southward of Mergui ; thence it occurs, though everywhere a rare bird, southward to Jahore 

 and Singapore. 



" In all its habits, mode of flight, and voice, it is closely allied to Anthreptes malaccensis, 

 being more of an insect-eater than a honey feeder. But while Anthreptes malaccensis swarms 

 pi all the gardens, the present species occurs (mostly in pairs, though sometimes singly) for the 

 most part in the forest or on its outskirts. Occasionally, of course, it does occur in gardens, 

 where it may be seen hunting trees and shrubs that are in flower, feeding on the nectar at times, 

 but often hunting the foliage also for insects. The note, like that of Anthreptes malaccensis, is 

 a feeble chirrup. 



"Male. Length 5'G2 to 5-8 inches, expanse 8-0 to 8*25, tail from vent 2-0 to 2-12, wing 

 2-55 to 2-C5, tarsus 06 to 07, bill from gape 0-85 to 1-0, weight 0-4 to 05 ounce. 



"Female. Length 5*4 to 5-6 inches, expanse 7 - G2 to 7 - 75, tail 1*S5 to 2T, wing 2'4 to 2 - 55, 

 tarsus 0-6 to OG2, bill from gape 0-85 to 0-91. 



" The legs and feet are greenish brown or dark plumbeous green ; the bill is horny black, 

 and in the male the gape is dull yellow : this may be the case also in the female ; but we have 

 not noted it in the case of any of our specimens. The hides are dark brown." 



