NECTARINIA NIPALENSIS.
Nepaulese Sun-Bird.
Cinnyris Nipalensis, Hodgs. Ind. Rev. 1837, Dp: 27a.

Horsfieldi, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. of Beng., vol. xi. p. 107.
Nectarinia Nipalensis, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc of Beng, vol. mir p. 974-—

—

 

Jard. Nat. Lib. Sun Birds, pp. 236,
268. pl. 27.—Gray and Mitch. Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 98.—Blyth, Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc.
Calcutta, p. 224.

——-— HAhrsfieldi, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. Soc. of Beng., vol. xii. p. 975.—Ib. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc.
Calcutta, p. 224.

 

From the numerous specimens of this bird which are obtained in the south-eastern and north-western por-
tions of the Himalayas, it must be exceedingly common in all those districts: it also inhabits Nepaul and
Sikim, and is very abundant about Darjeeling.

The \. Horsfeldi of Mr. Blyth is in my opinion identical with the present species ; the differences he
points out are too trivial to be regarded as specific, and he himself asks, “Can it be a variety of V. Mipa-
lensis?” he describes the upper parts as “very similar to those of WV. Mpatensis, only without the red, a
slight trace of which, however, appears on the lower part of the sides of the neck; the scale-like nuchal
feathers, also, are not so broadly glossed and have more of a purplish shine; the under parts, too, differ
only in having merely the slightest trace of flame colour.” Upon a careful examination of specimens in my
collection to which this description is applicable, with adult examples of the true NV. Niopatensis, I have little
hesitation in affirming that Mr. Blyth’s VV. Horsfeld is an immature example of that species.

The female offers the usual disparity in size and marked difference in colour: and Mr. Hodgson states
that the young males are earthy-brown on all the glossed parts of the mature males,

The male has the head and back of the neck metallic blackish green, with, in some lights, a purple gloss ;
throat very dark metallic green; upper part of the back and sides of the neck dark rusty red; wings
brown margined with olive; on the rump a triangular mark of yellow; upper tail-coverts and basal three-
fourths of the two central tail-feathers dark shining green; the apical fourth dark brown ; the lateral tail-
feathers dark brown, margined on the basal portion of the outer webs with dark shining green ; breast very
beautiful yellow, streaked with fine scarlet; abdomen and under tail-coverts greenish yellow; irides dark
brown ; bill black; feet brown.

The female is uniform olive-green, becoming much paler on the under surface; and the lateral tail-
feathers tipped with greyish white ; bill and feet as in the male.

The Plate represents two males and a female of the natural size, on the Mucuna anguina.