162 
INTRODUCTION. 
not generally take an interest in such productions. — 
Many of the Sun-birds breed in the clefts and hol- 
lows, or worm-eaten trunks of trees, where no nest 
possessing external interest is found ; * others place 
the “ nest among thick bushes, and form it of the 
down of plants, covering it externally with lichens 
or fine mosses. + Of the nest of an Indian species 
Dr. Latham thus writes, upon the authority of 
General Hardwicke, “ The nest composed of fine 
downy materials, mixed with a few dead leaves, in 
shape nearly globular, about three inches in diame- 
ter, and at bottom runs to a point, at least four 
inches beyond it ; the entrance at the top, and on 
one side, next to the branch to which it is attached, 
has a kind of hood or cover over the entrance." J 
In most, where we have any notice of them, the eggs 
are described as of a pale colour, bluish, grey, or 
reddish, -with brown or greenish spots ; in the Hum- 
ming-birds they are generally white. The nest of 
the N. goalparensis is represented by Professor 
Royle as suspended, and having the hole or en- 
trance near the upper part, the materials of which 
it is constructed being rather coarse. From these 
descriptions and the next, the character of the nests 
of the Indian species partakes more of those of the 
Orthotomi and tailor warblers. Mr. Jerdon writes 
of the C. Mahraltensis , “ I have seen the nest of 
this pretty little bird close to a house at Jaulnah. 
* Vaillant, Sucrier eblouisant, S. velour. 
+ Ditto, S. Oranga. 
X Lath. Gen. Hist., iv. p. 233. 
