GO ALP AR AH SUN-BIRD. 
231 
The length of our Nipaul specimen is about five 
inches four-tenths ; of the bill to the forehead, seven 
and a half tenths; that of the long tail-feathers, 
about two and six-tenths, exceeding the other about 
eight tenths. The bill, legs, and feet are wood- 
brown, the latter very pale on the mandible ; the 
crown golden-green with slight purple reflections, 
changing its intensity with the light ; the nape, 
back, and scapulars deep carmine red, with a brown- 
ish or subdued tinge, separating them from the 
colour of the cheeks, throat, and breast, which are 
of a clear and dazzling scarlet, relieved on each side 
of the maxilla with a moustache or streak of rich 
violet purple. The rump is banded with pale king’s- 
yellow, but immediately below the red on the back 
the feathers, of an oil-green colour, arc lengthened, 
and can be made to conceal entirely the yellow 
band, which we have no doubt they do while the 
bird continues in a state of rest. The wings are 
umber-brown, having the feathers edged with oil- 
green ; the vent and under tail-covers are pale 
clove-brown or greyish white. The tail itself is 
brownish black, with the upper covers and two 
centre feathers deep green, with reflections; the 
two centre feathers are much lengthened, and are of 
disunited texture. 
This species does not appear to be very uncom- 
mon ; we have seen several specimens of it, and its 
range is also somewhat wide; as stated, we possess 
it from Nipaul. Professor Royle figures it from 
Deyra Doon as an example of a tropical form from 
