THE BLUE-HEADED HONEY-SUCKER. 
153 
Theee is another species of Sun-bird which closely resembles the last-mentioned bird in 
its coloring, and is often mistaken for it. This is the Greater Collared Sun-bird ( Necta - 
rinia afra), a rather larger bird, measuring at least one inch more in total length than the 
preceding species. It is also an inhabitant of Africa, but is seldom seen in the extreme south 
of that country, preferring the deep forests of the interior, and rarely descending to the plains. 
Its nest is made in some hollow tree, and the eggs are four or live in number and white in 
color, plentifully variegated with tawny markings. It may be distinguished from the common 
Collared Sun-bird by the greater amount of the bronze-green hue, and by the shortness of the 
blue collar. 
The Javanese Sun-bird is a native of the country from which it derives its name. It is 
a very pretty little creature, although its colors are not so resplendent as in several of the 
species. The upper parts of the body are shining steely-purple, and the under surface is 
olive-yellow. The throat is chestnut, and a bright violet streak runs from the angle of the 
mouth to the breast. 
The Goalporah Sun-bird {Nectar inia goalpariensis) is also worthy of a passing notice. 
This beautiful species is an inhabitant of several parts of Asia, and is rather plentiful in 
and about Nepal. In dimensions it is equal to the preceding species, the adult male measur- 
ing about live and a half inches in length. The nest is beautifully constructed, and is of the 
pendulous order. The food of this bird consists chiefly of minute insects, spiders, and various 
larvae, chiefly those of flies. It lives mostly in the depths of the densest forests, where it may 
be found in tolerable numbers by those who choose to take the trouble to search after it. 
In the plumage of this pretty bird, red is the prevailing color. The crown of the head is 
rich golden-green, and the nape of the neck, the breast, and scapulae are of a dazzlingly brill- 
iant scarlet. The long central tail-feathers are of a rich green, and when closed, as is the case 
while the bird is at rest, completely conceal the bright yellow tint of the feathers below. The 
remainder of the tail is brownish black, and all the plumage of the lower part of the back is 
loose and downy in its structure. 
Some of the tribes of the Sun-birds, and their behavior when in captivity, are well recorded 
in the following description of some tame Sun-birds, by Captain Boys, quoted in Gould’s 
“Birds of Asia.” The species which is described is another Indian species, the Asiatic Sun- 
bird {Nectar inia asiatica ), called by the natives “ Shukurkhor,” or sugar-eater : — 
“In 1829 I slightly wounded a male in the bastard wing, secured and brought it home. 
By some neglect it was unthought of for four days, when, on looking into the bag in which it 
had been placed, I found that it was not only alive, but that the wing had completely cicatrized. 
I should observe, however, that the broken part of the wing had been taken off with a pair of 
scissors immediately after the bird was brought home. I placed it in a cage, and succeeded in 
keeping it alive for several weeks by feeding it on sugar and water, of which it took great 
quantities, but, owing perhaps to a want of variety in its food, it became thinner and thinner 
until it died. During its captivity it was very sprightly, and from the first day readily fed 
itself by dipping its tongue into the dish of syrup with which it was supplied.” 
It is probable that the poor little bird died, as was supposed, from the effects of its diet. 
A similar story is told of some of the humming-birds, by Webber, wdiere the little creatures 
pined after long feeding upon syrup alone, but, on being permitted to fly at liberty, imme- 
diately set to work upon the little garden spiders, and soon recovered their health and brill- 
iancy. This need of animal food seemed to be periodical and irresistible. 
In the same account, a portion of which has just been extracted, Captain Boys asserts 
that the nest of the Asiatic Sun-bird is very rudely made, whereas Mr. Layard tells us that 
it is constructed in a remarkably neat manner, and that it is often suspended from a twig in 
such a manner that the spiders cover it with their webs, and make it almost invisible. 
The Blue-headed Honey-sucker is a beautiful bird and a good specimen of its genus. 
It is an inhabitant of Brazil, where it is extremely common, and by the bright gorgeousness 
