368 THE BIKDS OF AUSTRALIA 



Tellow-rumped Diamond birds build in a tunnel in a bank, the 

 others in the hollow limbs of trees. The eggs are four in number, 

 white, without spots, .6 or .7 inches long x .5. 



The entrance to the tunnel of the Spotted Diamond-bird is 

 just large enough for the bird to creep through, and the tunnel 

 itself runs to two or three feet in length, in general horizontal 

 but inclined sufficiently to turn off the rain, and at the extremity 

 a chamber is formed at a rather higher level than the entrance, 

 and in this is constructed and contained a beautiful dome- 

 shaped nest, built of grass or fine bark and lined with finer 

 materials of the same sort. It is remarkable that the bird builds 

 up this structure in the almost complete absence of light. 



Family Nectariniidce. 

 Bill always much pointed, often elongated and curved. 

 Tongue long, protractile, ending in a tube anteriorly bifid. 

 Nostrils rounded, protected by a coriaceous membrane, without 

 bristles or feathers. Bright coloured birds, ornamented with 

 yellow and green and other colours, often metallic in lustre. 

 Males often with pectoral tufts. Female birds plainer. Non- 

 migratory tropical birds. Ethiopian, Indian and Australian 

 regions. Sun-birds, taking in the East the place of the 

 American Humming-birds. 



Genus Cyrtostomus. 

 Bill much longer than rest of head, much curved and pointed. 

 Indo-Malayan with one species reaching to Cape York and Port 

 Denison. 



The Sun-bird. 



Cyrtostomus frenatus. 



From Celebes over the Moluccas and Papuan Islands to North-east 

 -Australia, 



Male: Olive-yellow above; cheeks and faint superciliary streak yellow; 

 breast deep yellow; fore-neck and chest dark metallic purplish -blue; the 

 large tips to the tail yellowish-white. Total length 4.7 inches, culmen 

 .8.5, wing 2.3, tail 1.5, tarsus 6. Female: Without the metallic blue 

 throat and fore-neck; these parts being Tike the breast of a rich yellow, 

 Aiing 2.2 inches. 



