ARACHNETHEA. 119 



Family, NEOTARINID^, Vigors. ; Promeropidse, Gr-a?/, —Honey- 

 Suckers or SuN-BiEDS. 



Bill long, slender ; nostrils at base, and covered with a scale ; wings 

 moderate ; tarsi moderate ; claw of tind toe long and nearly straight. 



Sub-Family, NECTARININ^ (Promeropinse). 



Bill carved, base broad ; nostrils small j tail long ; outer toe longer 

 than inner. 



Gen. Arachnethra. — Gab. 



Bill well curved and long. Plumage dark, glossy above, and with 

 a tuft of yellow feathers in the axilla. 



Cinnyris asiatica, Lafh. Ind. Orn. i. p. 288 ; Jerd. B. Ind. i. 

 p. 370, No. 234; Hmne, 8tr. F. vi. 190; Murray, Hdbk., Zool, Sfc, 

 Bind, p. 132. Certhia currucaria, liinn. S. N. i. p. 185. Arachnethra 

 currucaria, Oah. Mus. Rein. p. 105. Cinnyris mahrattensis, Syhes, 

 P. Z. S. 1832, p. 90. Nectarinia asiatica, Ely. Gat. B. p. 224. 

 Cinnyris brevirostris, BJf. Eastern Persia, p. 220, pi. xiv. — The 

 Purple Honey-Suckee. 



Bummer Plumage. — Head, neck, throat, breast, and back glossy 

 greenish purple ; abdomen purplish black ; tail dull black, faintly 

 white-tipped ; wings dull black ; a tuft of crimson and yellow feathers 

 on the flanks behind the axil. In the winter garb, or non-breeding 

 plumage, the upper parts are dull olive green, beneath yellow; shoulder 

 aud stripe from chin to vent brilliant glossy violet ; wings and tail 

 dusky. The female is olive grey above, and olive yellow beneath; the 

 breast and throat deep yellow ; wings dasky ; tail black ; bill and legs 

 black; irides reddish brown. 



Length. — 4-5 inches, wings 2-2o, tail I'S, bill at front 0'75. 



P[ab. — Throughout India to Ceylon, and Burmah ; also Nepaul and 

 Upper Pegu. Occurs in Beloochistan, S. Persia, Travancore, the 

 Deccan, Kutch, Kattiawar, Jodhpore, and N. Guzerat. In Sind it is 

 extremely common, and breeds during June and July, laying two eggs, 

 which are greenish white, speckled and marked with a deep grey. 

 The nest is pendulous : usually suspended from the end of the branch 

 of a tree and composed of wool, fibres, leaves, grasses, &c.j with a hole 

 at nearly the bottom for an entrance. 



Family, UPUPID^E, 5p.— Hoopoes. 



Bill long, sides compressed to tip ; nostrils small and at base ; 

 wings long and rounded; tail long; outer toe united to middle ; hind 

 toe long. 



Sub-Family, UPUPINiE.— 5p. 

 Bill with prominent keel, tip sharp ; claw long, curved, sharp and 

 strong. 



Gen. Upupa. 



Bill slender and curved throughout; nostrils covered with mem- 

 branous scale ; tarsi broadly scaled ; head crested. 



