AVES. 
16 
Nectarinia Javanica (Horsf.). 
„ lepida (Tenim.). 
Aboyej from the beak to the tail, steel-blue, with purple reflec- 
tions between the shoulders and on the head, and violet reflections 
on the lower back and tail-covers ; the head and shoulders, when 
held in particular lights, exhibit greenish reflections. 
A patch of dusky oil-green mixed with rufous orange covers the 
ears, and below this a stripe of brilliant violet extends from the 
lower mandible to the shoulders. 
Below', chin and throat copper-colour ; breast bright yellow, be- 
coming lighter towards the tail-covers, W'hich are pale yellow. 
Wings, quills, and greater covers, brow'n edged with oil-green; 
shoulder and lesser covers, metallic violet, separated from the greater 
covers by a rufous band, the scapulary feathers dull brown with 
slight violet reflections at the basal part, and broadly tipped with 
deep rufous red. 
Tail, black, the feathers edged with violet. 
Total length, inches. 
Length of bill, from gape, 9 lines. 
„ of bill, from front, 8 lines. 
„ of wings, 2 inches 7 lines. 
„ of tail, 1 inch 10 lines. 
„ of tarsus, 8 lines. 
„ of middle toe, 6^ lines, 
„ of hallux, 6 lines. 
We have seen this bird at the south end of Labuan ; its 
movements, as we have also observed in other species of this 
genus, mncli resemble those of the English Titmice. 
Nectivrinia Cingaleusis (Gray). 
„ phoenicotis. 
Souiniauga oreillon violet (Temm.). 
Male ; above, uniform brilliant metallic green. 
Below, chin, neck, and breast, burnt sienna colour, flanks, belly, 
fill plant of Russelia juncea just before my office-window, clinging to the slender twigs 
in all sorts of positions, and turning up the scarlet bells to insert their fairy little beaks : 
they appear very sociable little birds, never passing one another without putting their 
beaks together with a little chirp. If any one comes too near, off they go like 
meteors, but are back in a minute. I think I never saw anytliing more beautiffil 
than this plant (whose beauty you cannot imagine from green-house specimens) : its 
long pendant twigs are one. blaze of scarlet blossoms for months together, with half-a- 
dozen of these living gems flitting among them. I often sit and watch them, and 
wish I could place them some fine morning before your window ; birds, flowers, 
broad sunshine and all.” — 
