Page:The Common Birds of Bombay.djvu/80

64 which fit the latter for their peculiar butterfly life; but it is, indeed, curious that they should even be clad, like them, with a radiance given to no other birds. What is the connection between a diet of nectar and a vesture of rainbow? A poetic fitness I can see, but science is prosaic and wants a reason why. I am afraid we shall not solve the riddle until we know a great deal more than we yet do of the meaning of colour.

Our commonest Sunbird (Arachnecthra zeylonica) seen at a distance, and in a dull light, is a tiny bird of a dark brown colour, except on the breast and lower parts, which are yellow. But see it at close quarters, with the sun shining on it, as its admiring mate sees it! The top of its head glitters with a hue which Jerdon defines as "bright, metallic, glossy green," while Mr. Oates calls it "metallic lilac." Perhaps one looked at it from the front and the other from behind. Its throat and the whole of its back glow with the tints of an amethyst, the shoulders and wings are of the richest maroon red (Mr. Gates says "dull crimson"), and the tail is black. The admiring mate is herself dressed in the beauty of simplicity. She also is yellow on the under-parts, but paler than her lord, hileher head, back, and wings are of a greenish dusky colour. Yet the effect of the whole is very tasteful and pleasing. They are a loving couple, and I think the union is for life, for one seldom sees a single Sunbird. Belt and other observers have stated that Humming-birds frequent flowers less for the nectar than for the little insects in them. I am sure this is not true of the Sunbird. It eats plenty of little insects, especially spiders, but it seeks flowers for