The Cape Sun-bird. BIRDS. The Purple Sun-bird. 305 
THE CAPE SOT'-BIB.D {Promerops caffer), the only 
species of its genus, is, as implied in its name, a native 
of the Cape of Good Hope, ^Yhe^e it exhibits a par- 
ticular partiality for the flowers of the Protea. It 
measures about fifteen inches in length, and has a 
very long, wedge-shaped tail, and a slender, black, 
and slightly-Curved bill. The plumage of the upper 
parts, including the wings and tail, is greenish-brown, 
with the top of the head varied with grey and brown, 
and the rump and upper tail-coverts olive-green; the 
throat is dingy v^hite, bordered on each side by a 
black line ; the breast is brownish-orange, the belly 
nearl}' white, spotted with brown, and the lower tail- 
coverts are of a fine yellow colour. According to Le 
Vaillant’s observations, this bird feeds upon the juices 
of flowers. When he kept them in confinement, he 
procured the flowers of the Protea and other plants 
to which the birds are attached, and they resorted to 
them freely in search of nourishment ; or, in default of 
flowers, they fed readily upon honey mixed with water. 
They build their nests on the forked branches of trees. 
THE BRONZED SUST-BIRD (Nectarinia cenea). The 
genus Nectarinia, to which this bird belongs, includes 
upwards of a hundred known species — all inhabitants 
of the warm regions of Africa and Asia. Of these we 
can of course only notice a few, and we may com- 
mence with the African species, of which the Bronzed 
Sun-bird is one. 
In the male of this species the whole upper surface 
is of a bronze colour, with bluish and greenish tints in 
certain lights ; the wings and tail are of a bronzed 
black, and the lower surface of the body, the bill, and 
feet are black. The female, on the other hand, is 
of an olive colour above and blackish-brown below. 
This bird makes its nest in the hole of a tree, where 
it lays five or six eggs of a pale rose colour, with small 
reddish spots. 
THE BEAUTlfTJL SUN-BIRD (Nectarinia pulcJtclla), 
which is an inhabitant of the west coast of Africa, and 
especially of Senegal, is a charming little species, of a 
brilliant metallic-green colour, with the exception of 
the breast, which is red, and the wings and tail which 
are black. The bill and feet are also black. These 
are the tints of the male, in which the two middle tail- 
feathers are about two inches longer than the rest ; the 
female is far more sober in her clothing, exhibiting only 
different tints of brown. The length of the bird is from 
six to seven inches. 
THE VIOLET-HEADED SUN-BIRD (Nectarinia vio- 
lacea), a native of the Cape of Good Hope, is a rather 
smaller species than the preceding. It has the head 
and neck of a violet colour, passing on the throat to 
metallic blue and green ; the rest of the plumage is 
olive-green, Avith the exception of the abdomen which 
is orange colour. The female is of an olive-green 
colour. The bill and feet are black in both sexes. 
The male is said to have an agreeable song. The nest 
of this species is built in a bush, and composed of moss 
and lichens externally, with an inner lining of hair. 
The eggs are usually five in number, and yelloAvish- 
white, with brown dots. 
THE SHINING SUN-BIRD (Nectarinia famosa), the 
Gkeen Sugar-bird of the Dutch colonists at the Cape 
VoL. T. 39 
of Good Hope, Avhere the species is very abundant, 
is one of the most beautiful and remarkable of tiie 
African species. It measures rather more than nine 
inches in length, and has a long tail, of Avhich the two 
middle feathers are about two inches longer than the 
rest. The general colour of the plumage of the male is 
a fine golden green, passing to steel blue on the loAvcr 
pai't of the belly. The quill feathers of the wings and 
tail are violet black ; but the secondaries and the two 
elongated middle tall feathers are margined with golden 
green ; a deep-black line runs from the base of the bill 
to the eye, and on each side of the breast there is a 
small tuft of yellow feathers. The bill and feet are 
black. The female is smaller than the male, and of 
a yelloAvish-grey colour above, yellow beneath. The 
male is said to have a pleasing song. The nest is 
composed of fibres and moss, and lined Avith hair. 
The eggs are four or five in number, and of a greenish 
colour. 
THE SPLENDID SUN-BIRD (Nectarinia splenclidu), 
another African species, and the last from that con- 
tinent to Avhich Ave shall refer, is remarkable for the 
brilliancy of the violet tint, .with pui'ple and blue reflec- 
tions, exhibited by the head, neck, breast, and abdomen. 
Over these parts are scattered numerous points of bright 
red, Avith golden and green tints. The upper surface is 
of a fine golden-green colour ; and the feathers of the 
wings and tail are violet black. These are the colours 
of the male; bpt the partner of this splendid bird is far 
more modest in her dress, her plumage presenting only 
different shades of broAvn on the upper surface, Avhilst 
the lower parts are greyish. The nest is placed in tlie 
holloAv trunk of a tree ; and the eggs, Avhich are four or 
five in number, are Avhite. 
THE PURPLE SUN-BIRD (Nectarinia asiatica), Avhich 
is an abundant species in all parts of India, varies con- 
siderably in colour according to the season, the breeding 
dress of the male being a deep violet-blue, Avith greenish 
lustre, and with a tuft of yelloAV feathers on each side 
of the breast. The female is of an earthy broAvn above 
and greenish-yelloAV beneath. ' The length of the bird 
is about four inches and a half. 
The Purple Sun-bird is found both on the continent 
of India and in Ceylon, and is observed to feed in part 
upon the honey which it extracts from floAvers, and 
in part upon insects. The latter it captures, not only 
from the flowers over Avhich it hovers Avhile exploring 
their recesses Avith its curved bill, but also from the 
branches and tAvigs of plants ; and it has been seen by 
Mr. J erdon to capture insects on the Aving. Its note is 
a feeble but SAveet chirping. The nest Avhich is a dome- 
shaped, or bottle-shaped structure, is suspended from 
the end of a twig, and is sometimes attached to the web 
of a spider in a suitable situation, and composed partly 
of cobAveb, in Avhich Mr. Layaid says he has seen the 
spider still at Avork, thus reiideiing the concealment 
of the nest very complete. Mr. Jerdon describes 
the process of building adopted by this ingenious little 
architect as folloAvs : — ‘‘ The nest Avas commenced on a 
thick spider’s Aveb, by attaching to it various fragments 
of paper, cloth, straAV, gvass, and other substances, till 
it had secured a firm hold of the tAvig to Avhich the Aveb 
adhered ; and the nest suspended on this Avas then 
