Volume 19, Plate XV / Ornithology (Birds)

Fire-Backed Sunbird

Cinnyris erythronotus

The smallest sunbird of its company, measuring only four and three-quarter inches and alone without any tinge of green. The head, neck and breast are dark glossy copper-red with a lilac gloss on the throat, the back becoming progressively more lilac and the tail-covers tinged amethystine purple, while all the remaining plumage, tail and wings, with the bill and feet, are the deepest black.