TliNUIROSTRES. 
15 
smail open grassy spot on the sea-sliore, associating in flocks 
of ten or twelve, ami are extremely shy and diflicnlt to ap- 
proach ; they sail in circles with the flight of a small hawk, 
sometimes at a great height, and sometimes close to the grass; 
when they percli, which is not often, they iisnally select a 
bare twig. We kept a young one alive for some time, and 
fed him upon Cockroaches and Crrasshoppers, and he became 
exceedingly tame : he was, however, at last killed by eating a 
large spicier which evidently poisoned him. 
Tribe Tonuirostres. 
Fam. Promeropida;. 
Sub-fain. Proineropinae. 
Gen. NecUiriiiia. 
Nectariiiia pectoralis (Horsl.). 
Pectoral or Dark-breasted. Sun-bird (Jardine), 
Male ; above, from the forehead to the tail yellowish olive-green ; 
the forehead is steel-blue. 
Below, from the chin to the upper breast steel-blue, thence to the 
tail yellow. 
Wings, brown, the quills externally edged with olive-green. 
Tail, rounded, black, the three outer feathers on each side tipped 
w'ith white, which colour on the outer one of all extends nearly lialf 
the length of the feather. 
Female wants the steel blue on the throat and forehead, but 
resembles the male in other respects, except that the general colours 
are duller. 
Length, 4 inches 1 line. 
,, of bill, from gape, 8 lines. 
,, of bill, from front, 6 lines. 
,, of w’ings, 2 inches. 
„ of tail, 1 inch 4 lines. 
„ of tarsus, t]: an inch. 
The specimens from which the above description is taken, 
were shot on a Mimosa-like tree, overhanging the sea-beach, 
where they were very busy among the branches, in company 
with . a great variety of other small birds; they appeared to 
be hunting some insects, and in their manner and attitudes 
much resembled our English Tits.* 
* Tfi a letter I have received from Mr, Motley fince the above was written he thus 
speaks of this species: — “I think that there is no doubt that this lovely little bird 
feeds almost entirely on honey : three or four of them frequent all day long a bcauti- 
