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MAHRATTA SUN-BIRD. 
Nectarinia Mahrattensis, Latham. 
PLATE XXIV. 
The species which we have placed under the above 
name we have received from the plains of India, 
the more alpine districts, by the attention of Cap- 
tain Alexander Singers, from Nipaul, through Mr. 
Hodgson, and, as Mr. Jerdon remarks of it, “ it 
appears to be the most generally distributed of all 
the CinnyricUe, and is the only one I have met with 
on the bare table land.” Notwithstanding this ap- 
parent frequency, and that it is not an uncommon 
bird in Indian collections, the descriptions of authors 
are so very short, that it is with difficulty that by 
them it can be separated from some allied birds. 
From the following description also, it will be seen 
how near it agrees with the last bird, differing, 
however, by the more purple tint of the upper 
plumage, the black belly and vent, the orange as 
well as yellow axillary tufts, and by the form and 
proportions of the bill. 
The entire length is from four inches seven-tenths 
to four and a half; bill to the forehead seven, or 
seven-tenths and a half. The upper parts and lesser 
