CINNTEIS LOTENIUS. 565 



Habits. — Its lively manners, powerful song, and perhaps its remarkably long bill render this species the 

 most showy of the Ceylonese Sun-birds, though in plumage it cannot vie with either of its congeners. It is 

 found in most situations but forest, and is very partial to open bushy land studded with large trees ; its love 

 of frequenting gardens and compounds, in the flowering trees of which it finds employment for its long and 

 brush-like tongue, makes it a familiar bird to both European residents and natives ; and it always seems to be 

 an object of admiration to the half-clad Singhalese boy who often accompanies the collector in his morning 

 excursions. Besides feeding on the honey and pollen of flowers, it catches spiders and other insects ; and one 

 which Mr. Swinhoe shot at Galle in April had a number of small Pipulm (hairy long-legs) in its gizzard. 

 Oleanders and hedge-rows of " shoe-flower " trees (Hibiscus) are a favourite resort of this Sun-bird, and it may 

 often be seen, half-flying, half-clinging to the flowers of this fine shrub while it inserts its long bill into the 

 petals and extracts the honey therefrom. The male has a very lively and (for such a small bird) powerful 

 song, which it utters from the tip top of a tree or when seated on some outstretching lateral branch, which is 

 a favourite perch with it. While thus engaged in serenading its soberly clad partner, the bill is pointed 

 upwards, as if to give full vent to its love-song, and its wings are anon opened and shut to add still more to 

 the attractions of an already gay plumage. In India Jerdon writes that it frequents both jungles and gardens, 

 and that he has seen it frequently enter his verandah to feed on spiders. 



Nidification. — The breeding-season of this Sun-bird in the south lasts from February until May ; and the 

 nest is a pear-shaped, purse-like structure, suspended from a hanging twig. A lime or orange-tree is frequently 

 chosen, and the nest placed about 5 feet from the ground. It is composed of fine grass, interwoven and 

 decorated with bleached leaves and small pieces of bark, which are sown to the exterior with grass split into 

 fine threads, the whole structure measuring about 7 inches by 3 ; the interior is composed of cotton from the 

 pod, mixed with spiders' webs, and formed into a compact mass. The eggs are two or three in number, of a 

 greenish-grey ground-colour, speckled throughout with two shades of light brown or brownish grey, sometimes 

 forming a zone round the obtuse end. Dimensions — axis 064 inch, diameter 045 inch. 



