FIERY-TAILED SUN-BIRD . — Nedannia ignicaudci . 
The Sun-Birds are natives of the Old World, and in many of their habits are 
very like the humming-birds of the New World, decked with brilliant plumage, 
and feeding on honey, but not by hovering over a flower and sweeping up its 
nectar with the tongue, as is the case among the humming-birds. The Sun-Birds 
generally, if not always, perch before they attempt to feed, and flit restlessly from 
flower to flower, probing the blossoms in rapid succession, and uttering continually 
a sharp, eager cry, that indicates the earnestness of their occupation. In accor- 
dance with their peculiar habits, the feet and legs are very much stronger than 
those of the humming-birds ; their wings are shorter, rounder, and less powerful, 
and their plumage is not so closely set. 
When taken young, the Sun-Birds are very susceptible of human influence, 
rapidly becoming tame, and learning to fly about the room and take their food 
from the hand of their owners with charming familiarity. It has already been 
mentioned that the Sun-Bird utters a shrill, sharp whistle, while engaged in seeking 
food. This, however, is not their only cry, as many of them possess considerable 
musical powers, their cry, although feeble, being sweet and agreeably modulated. 
The Eiery-Tailed Sun-Bird is an Indian species, being found most plentifully 
in Nepal and near the Himalayas. It is blue on the head, bright scarlet above, 
with a band of yellow across the lower part of the back ; the ten middle feathers 
of the tail are Vermillion, and the breast is golden yollow with a dash of crimson 
in the centre. 
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