Volume 36, Plate XX / Ornithology (Birds)

Ceylon Yellow-Bellied Sun-Bird

Nectarinia Zeylonica

A species widely distributed over Continental India, about four inches and a quarter, with crown dark olive showing green and purple, chin and throat rich violet or amethystine purple, the neck-sides and breast band maroon red, the lower back amethystine purple and the belly king’s-yellow, the outer tail-feathers pale-tipped. It feeds on flower honey and will sip sugar and water, building a globular nest suspended from a branch; the female is olive-green above, yellow beneath.