224 
MINUTE SUN-BIRD. 
Nectarinia minuta, Sykes. 
VIGNETTE TITLE. 
A lovely species of Sun-bird was characterised 
by Colonel Sykes in his Catalogue of the Birds of 
the Deccan, under the above name ; specimens were 
also met with by Jerdon on the Indian peninsula, 
a pair of which were forwarded for our examina- 
tion, and these we have been unable to reconcile to 
any previous description. They were met with by 
the latter naturalist in the high forest-jungle of 
Malabar ; by Colonel Sykes “ only in the dense 
woods of the Ghants. White ants and the larvEe of 
flies were found in their stomach.” 
The entire length of Mr. Jerdon’s specimens is 
about three inches six-tenths (ho states three inches 
and three-quarters). Above, the crown and nape 
are brilliant olive with purple reflections, and of a 
soft scutellated appearance; the upper plumage, 
including the lesser wing-covers, are very rich pur- 
plish red with a large mixture of scarlet, on the 
lower back and upper tail-covers varying with pale 
bluish purple. The wings are umber-brown, the 
tail dark blackish brown. Beneath, the throat and 
