NECTAR1NIA INSIGNIS, Gould. 



Penang* Sun-bird. 



Nectarinia insignis, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1865, p. 663. 



Every ornithologist who has turned his attention to the birds of the Old World is aware that the Sun-birds 

 are exceedingly numerous. Tropical Africa abounds with them ; they are equally abundant in India from 

 the Himalayas to the most southern point of the peninsula ; many inhabit Malasia, Java, Sumatra, and the 

 islands generally to New Guinea and even to Northern Australia. In each of those countries the woods 

 are tenanted and the flora visited by these nectar-loving little birds. 



As may be readily imagined, considerable diversity of form is found to exist among them, and consequently 

 they have been subdivided into various genera ; in the present work, however, I have retained all the species 

 under the term Nectarinia, but have at the same time generally indicated the section or genus to which each 

 has been respectively assigned. The present bird, which is here figured for the first time, belongs to 

 Arachnechthra, the members of which are distinguished for having a beautiful flame- or yellow-coloured 

 spot on each side of the chest. N. Osea, N. Asiatica, and N. Lotenia are other examples of this form. I 

 regret to say that nothing is known respecting the present very distinct species. The specimen from which 

 my figure was taken was received direct from Penang by a gentleman in Glasgow, who sent it, together with 

 fine skins of Polyplectron, Harpactes, Cymbirhynchus, &c, to a fishing-tackle maker in London, to be made 

 into Salmon-flies ; and I consider myself fortunate that they came under my notice, as I was thereby enabled 

 to rescue the solitary specimen of this lovely bird from such an ignoble fate. 



In size the N. insignis is intermediate between N. Lotenia and N. Asiatica, from both of which it differs 

 in the green colouring of its crown, and in the beautiful purple tint of the breast and abdomen. 



Crown of the head deep shining green ; shoulders, wing-coverts, rump, and upper tail-coverts shining- 

 green, tinged with purple ; a narrow line down each side of the throat ; breast and abdomen rich glossy 

 blue, tinged with purple ; chin and centre of the throat rich purplish red ; on each side of the breast a tuft 

 of rich gamboge-yellow feathers ; nape and back deep velvety black ; primaries and secondaries glossy 

 brownish black ; tail rounded at the end, of a deep bluish black, some of the outer feathers narrowly 

 margined externally with shining green ; lower part of the abdomen, thighs, and under tail-coverts deep 

 black; flanks smoke-grey; bill and feet black. 



The figures are of the size of life, on the Coelogyne Parishi 



it. 



Since the drawing of this species was printed and the above was written, I have become aware that the 

 term insignis had been previously assigned by Sir William Jardine to another member of this family. 

 Under these circumstances I propose the name oifulgida for the present bird. 



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