125 
SPLENDID SUNBIRD. 
Cirmyris splendida, Cuvier. 
Glossy violet, with the back and elongated tail-covers emerald- 
green ; breast with transverse interrupted lines of crimson; 
belly and vent black ; hypochondriac feathers yellow. 
Certliia Iotenia, LinnauB. — L'Eclatant, Vieillot Ois. d'Or. pi. 2. 
— Lo Soui manga a plumes soyeuses, lb. pi. 82. — Le Su- 
crier eblouissant, Le Vaill. Ois. d'Af vi. 295, f. 1. — Cin- 
nyris lucidus, Trade d'Orn. 295. 
The enthusiastic Le Vaillant might well he enrap- 
tured upon discovering this charming little creature, 
which is certainly the most splendid species in this 
group we have yet seen. It is difficult even to de- 
scribe its colours, which change under almost every 
diversity of light ; while to represent them is impos - 
sible. Metallic tints, which more especially belong 
to birds of the most dazzling plumage, are those 
which the painters art can least represent ; and this 
is the true cause why birds so ornamented, more 
especially with different hues of dark blue, purple, 
or lilac, exhibit nothing of their true richness when 
attempted to he represented on paper. Our readers, 
therefore, must bear this fact in mind, and not con- 
