THE PTTRPLE SUN-BIRD. 
321 
It extends down the Malay peninsula and ranges into Siam and Cocliin 
China^ in which latter country Dr. Tiraud states that it is most abundant. 
This beautiful species is perhaps the best known of all the Sun-birds in 
Burmah_, for it is a most familar and fearless little bird. It is quite as 
often seen hovering about flowers growing close to the verandah of a house 
as in the forests. It is generally found in pairs frequenting trees and 
shrubs which bear large flowers^ and it subsists more on honey than any 
other species I am acquainted with. It secures the nectar in a flower 
either by perching close to the flower and bending over its head_, or by 
poising itself in the air with repeated beats of the wings. The male during 
most of the dry weather has a most jubilant little song^ and when singing 
it perches itself on the topmost branch of a bamboo clump or tree. The 
breeding-season lasts from February to August. The nest is a beautiful 
pear-shaped structure six or eight inches in lengthy with a small circular 
hole about the centre for an entrance. This hole is overhung by a portico, 
projecting an inch or more from the body of the nest. The materials used 
are fine grasses ; and th*e exterior of the nest is covered with cobwebs_, to 
which are attached pieces of bark^ dead leaves and cocoons in such a way 
that it is most diflicult to discover the nest_, which is usually suspended 
from the tip of a low branch quite near the ground. The eggs are two in 
number^, and are greenish white marked with greyish ash. 
304. CINNYRIS ASIATICA. 
THE PURPLE SUN-BIRD. 
Certhia asiatica, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. p. 288. Arachnechthra asiatica, Jerd. B. 
Ind. i, p. 370 ; Hume, Nests and Eggs, p. 151 5 Wald. Ibis, 1870, p. 20 ; Adam, 
S. F. i. p. 374 ; Hume, 8. F. iii. p. 87 ; Bl. ^ Wald. B. Burm. p. 171 ; Armstrong, S. F. 
iv. p. 313 ; Hume 8r Dav. S. F. yI. p. 190. Arachnechthra intermedia, Hume, 
Ibis, 1870, p. 436 ; id. Nests and Fggs, p. 154. Arachnechthra brevirostris, 
Blanford, Ibis, 1873, p. 86 ; Hmne 8f Dav. S. F. vi. p. 190. Arachnechthra 
edeni, Anders. Yunnan Exped. p. 661, pi. xlix. Cinnyris asiaticus, Shelley, 
Mon. Nect. pp. xxxvi, 181, pi. 57 ; Legge, Birds Ceylon,"^. 566; Hume, S. F. viii. 
p. 91 ; Scully, S. F. viii. p. 259. 
Description. — Male. The whole upper plumage^ sides of the head and 
neck and the lesser wing-coverts metallic violet-blue ; median and greater 
coverts and all the quills brown, edged paler ; tail bluish black ; chin,, 
throat and fore neck metallic violet ; breast like tlie sides o£ the neck ; a 
narrow band below the breast coppery brown ; the large pectoral tufts 
mixed orange-red and bright yellow ; abdomen, vent and under tail-coverts 
violet-black. 
VOL. I. Y 
