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GENERAL LOTEN’S SUN-BIRD. 
Nedarinia Lotenia, LINN.EUS. 
PLATE XXIII. 
This bird is one of the Nectariniadas first and origi- 
nally described by Limueus in the Syst. Natures, from 
specimens sent to him by General Loten, Governor 
of Ceylon, and named in honour of that gentleman, 
“ qui hortum botanicum primus in India condidit, 
et tot raris avibus me aliosque dotavit." From 
the improper synonymes of Gmelin being ap- 
plied to the description, the original name has 
been long given to another and very different bird 
(N. splendida, Shaw, Plate V.), and we think it 
only due, both to its discoverer and first descriher, 
to restore its former title. We have not seen 
specimens either from Ceylon or any of the East 
Indian Islands, all those which we have received 
being from various parts of Continental India. Mr. 
Jerdon states it to be tolerably common in the 
Carnatic and on the west coasts of the peninsula, 
frequenting both gardens and jungles. Specimens of 
the male before us are in entire length five inches ; 
that of the bill to the forehead, which is consider- 
ably hooked, showing a difference when compared 
witli the same member in the next, one inch. The 
