214 CEYLON OR YELLOW-BELLIED SUN-BIRD. 
name of C. sola, says it is “ more abundant in the 
Carnatic than in any other part of the peninsula, 
and to be seen in almost every garden. 
The length of our specimens are about four 
inches and a quarter. The crown of the head, 
above the eyes, extending to the occiput, is a dark 
and deep olive with green and purple reflections ; 
the chin, throat, and fore parts of the neck, rich 
violet or amethystine purple, changing with the 
light ; these form the coronal and gular patches of 
scale-like feathers. The sides of the neck, back, 
scapulars, and a band across the upper parts of the 
breast, of a rich purplish brown (maroon red) ; the 
lesser wing-covers similar in tint to the head, but 
having a greater tinge of purple ; lower parts of the 
back and upper tail-covers rich amethystine purple; 
wings umber-brown, edges of the feathers paler ; 
tail nearly black, the exterior feathers with very pale 
greyish tips, on the outer one extending for nearly 
a quarter of an inch ; the breast and belly king’s- 
yellow, becoming paler on the flanks and under tail- 
covers. 
Mr. Jerdon, who is an accurate observer, thus 
describes the female, “ olive-green above, beneath 
yellow, chin and throat white, wings and tail as in 
the male.” 
In the collection of Hugh Strickland, Esq. there 
are specimens apparently a variety of this species, 
having the coronal patch violet, the gular patch 
nearly steel-blue, agreeing somewhat with that placed 
by Dr. Latham as his Var. 1. 
