222 
StJNBIEDS. 
we sent to England bj Dr. Stangcr, after whom it was 
named, Cinnyris Stangeri, is very abundant and the 
colours fine, being red, yellow, and other less gaudy 
tints, blended with rich metallic green. 
These pretty little denizens of the woods are very 
properly named sunbirds, for while most others are 
quietly buried in the thickets to avoid the heat and 
glare of the noonday sun, these diminutive pilferers are 
often actively engaged on the nectar-teeming yellowish 
flower of the Papaya carica, which when in blossom, 
is their favourite haunt. We procured most of our 
specimens in the vicinity of one of these trees. 
Snakes arc numerous and some very large; one, a 
description of Boa, about fourteen feet, was killed 
during our sojourn, and if the accounts of the natives 
are to be credited, another of an enormous size had 
been killed at West Bay, where it had long been 
the terror of the Edeeyahs. They said it was shot 
while in a state of inactivity, after having gorged 
itself with a golden roode bok; a proof, if true, of its 
large dimensions. 
Attached to the wooden rafters of the house, little 
circular and somewhat pyramidal collections of clay 
wore noticed, which on examination were found to be 
divided into a number of oval cells, each containing 
one or more eggs, and some small Diptera intended 
as future food for the young larvae. The labours of 
this careful mason were but too often fruitless, as a 
large description of Synagris was observed busy at 
