124 
RED-BREASTED SUNBIRD. 
when it assumes the plumage of the female. The 
latter sex, as Le Vaillant observes, is of a grey- 
brown-olive above, and of a lighter tint beneath, 
which gradually inclines to dull white on the belly 
and under tail-covers ; all the tail-feathers are 
rounded and equal. The male, in its full plumage, 
is entirely of a rich gilded-green, both above and 
below, except upon the breast, where there is a 
transverse patch of bright scarlet, shading oft’ on all 
sides into pale straw-coloured yellow: the quills 
and tail are blackish-brown : the greater wing-co- 
vers the same ; but those nearest the body are edged 
with green, the lesser covers being like the back : 
the tail is rounded, and of a boat-shaped form, and 
the bill and feet are black : the two middle tail-fea- 
thers extend two and a half inches beyond the 
others. 
Total length, exclusive of the two middle tail- 
feathers, 4j% ; bill, t 7 5 ; wings, 2$j ; tail beyond, 
j 8 5 ; ditto, from the base, 1J. 
