a 



NECTARINIA NIPALENSIS. 



Nepaulese Sun-Bird. 



Cinnyris Nipalensis, Hodgs. Ind. Rev. 1837, p. 273. 



Horsfieldi, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. of Beng., vol. xi. p. 107. 



Nectarinia Nipalensis, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc, of Beng., vol. xii. p. 974.— Jard. Nat. Lib. Sun Birds, pp. 236, 



268. pi. 27.— Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 98.— Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. 



Calcutta, p. 224. 



Horsfieldi, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. of Beng., vol. xii. p. 975— lb. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. 



Calcutta, p. 224. 



From the numerous specimens of tbis bird which are obtained in the south-eastern and north-western por- 

 tions of the Himalayas, it must be exceedingly common in all those districts : it also inhabits Nepaul and 

 Sikim, and is very abundant about Darjeeling. 



The N. Horsfieldi of Mr. Blyth is in my opinion identical with the present species ; the differences lie 

 points out are too trivial to be regarded as specific, and he himself asks, " Can it be a variety of N Nipa- 

 lensis}" he describes the upper parts as "very similar to those of N. Nipalensis, only without the red, a 

 slight trace of which, however, appears on the lower part of the sides of the neck ; the scale-like nuchal 

 feathers, also, are not so broadly glossed and have more of a purplish shine ; the under parts, too, differ 

 only in having merely the slightest trace of flame colour." Upon a careful examination of specimens in my 

 collection to which this description is applicable, with adult examples of the true N Nipalensis, I have little 

 hesitation in affirming that Mr. Blyth's N. Horsfieldi is an immature example of that species. 



The female offers the usual disparity in size and marked difference in colour : and Mr. Hodgson states 

 that the young males are earthy-brown on all the glossed parts of the mature males. 



The male has the head and back of the neck metallic blackish green, with, in some lights, a purple gloss • 

 throat very dark metallic green ; upper part of the back and sides of the neck dark rusty red ; wings 

 brown margined with olive ; on the rump a triangular mark of yellow ; upper tail-coverts and basal three- 

 fourths of the two central tail-feathers dark shining green; the apical fourth dark brown; the lateral tail- 

 feathers dark brown, margined on the basal portion of the outer webs with dark shining green ; breast very 

 beautiful yellow, streaked with fine scarlet ; abdomen and under tail-coverts greenish yellow ; irides dark 

 brown ; bill black ; feet brown. 



The female is uniform olive-green, becoming much paler on the under surface ; and the lateral tail- 

 feathers tipped with greyish white ; bill and feet as in the male. 



The Plate represents two males and a female of the natural size, on the Mucuna anguina. 



-AJ 



