HUMMING BIEDS. 
15 
The follo^Ying description by Mr. Swainson of the 
splendid Snn-bird {Cinnyris splenclida) Mali give some 
idea of the beautiful appearance of these birds. “ The 
enthusiastic Le Vaillant,” says that eminent naturalist, 
“might M^ell be enraptured upon discovering this charm- 
ing little creature, which is certainly the most splendid 
species in this group we have yet seen. Its head and 
neck may be called either purple, blue, violet, or lilac, 
for it changes to one or the otlier of these tints accord- 
ing: to the direction it is held in, whether to or from 
the light, whether viewed by the sun or by a candle ; 
in either case the plumage is as glossy as polished 
steel, whde those parts not illuminated by the light 
become absolutely black. Such is the appearance of 
the crown, sides of the head, the neck, and the throat, 
to a little beyond the breast, where this colour is 
crossed by several narrow irregular lines of bright 
scarlet ; the lower half of the body, to the vent, is 
deep uniform black, without any gloss ; the upper 
plumage, from the interscapulars to the tail-coverts, 
is the most brilliant polished blue-green, one or other 
of Avhich colours preponderate according to the light ; 
but there is no golden or other tint intermixed. The 
same green is upon the lesser wing-coverts, and the 
under tail-coverts. What particidarly distinguishes 
this species from all others yet known, is the great 
prolongation of the upper tail-coverts, M^hich are quite 
as long as (and entirely conceal) the tail itself, the 
feathers of Avhich are all even, and blue-black. The 
wings, feet, and bill are solely black. The length of 
this species is three and a half inches.” 
Another species, the olive-backed Sun-bird {Cinnyris 
