The Green Fruitsuckers. 
175 
l)e an interesting point to iiave definitely solved — what with 
captive specimens and the kind assistance of members re- 
siding- ill India, this should bo possible. 
Frankly, I am disaj)poiiitc(l in our Fruitsucker i)lates. 
While the birds and tiieir colour areas are clearly and dis- 
linclly indicated and tlic drawing leaves nothing to be desired, 
yet they altogether fail to indicate the soft, silky, depth of 
the hues of their plumage — probably if only a single Ijird had 
been on each plate the result would have been better, and 
a pose with partially expanded wings would liave revealed 
more of the lovely blue on the wing butts — however, they 
are sufficiently true, that none can be led astray, for if one 
had never seen a Green Fruitsucker before, they should know 
it for all time after examining the plate. 
Now as to the figures on the plate; these two species 
are so much alike that one is often taken for the other, but this 
should not occur with our readers in the future, as C. aurifrons 
has the centre of the throat blue, like the moustachial streaks, 
while C. malaharicus' has the centre of the throat black, the 
moustachial streaks standing out very clearly from the black 
mask; distinctions which cannot be overlooked when adult 
specimens arc compared. 
A concluding word about my favourite Gold-front; he 
enjoys a flight 10 x 4 feet, by from 5 to 1}^ feet high, the 
back and one end of which are covered by the branches of 
a large abutilon and amid the vine like foliage he can be 
seen disporting himself and much of his natural demeanour 
gleaned — running up and down the stems, searching branches 
and leaves for insects, hovering to take them from the un- 
derside, and also to suck the nectar from the bell-like blos- 
soms. This hovering is very frequently indulged in and the 
bird looks beautiful indeed when so seen. I do not think 
either pen or brush could describe it. This species is dis- 
tinctly arboreal and is seldom seen upon the ground where 
much of its graceful deportment is lost, and, only to pick up 
some dropped dainty, or for the morning and evening tub, does 
my bird seek the ground. 
Jerdon gives the range of this species as covering 
the whole of the sub -Himalayan region; also in Lower Bengal 
