5CTARTNTA SATURATA.
N E C T A R I N I A S A T U R A T A .
Black-breasted Sun-bird.
Cimyris saturate, Hodgs. Ind. Rev. 1837, p. 273.—Id. Gray, Zool. Misc.' 1844, p. 82.
Nectarinia saturate, Blyth, Journ. Asiat. See. Beng., vol. xii. p. 276.,-Id. Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., vol. xx. p. 316.
Id. Cat. of Birds in Mus. Asiat. Soc. Calcutta, p. 224.—Bonap. Qonsp. Gen. Av., tom. i. p. 405,
Nectarinia, sp. 14.
Cinnyris Assamensis, McClell.' Proc. Zool. Soc., part. vii. (1839) p.^167.
Nectarinia Hodgsonii, Jard. Nat. Lib. Nect.,pp. 240-269, pi. 29.-G r a y , Gen. o f Birds, vol. i. p. 98, Nectarinia,
sp. 66.—Id. Cat. of Spec, and Draw, of Mamm. and Birds pres*to Brit. Mus. by B. H. Hodgson,
Esq., p. 59.
JEthopyga saturate, Cab. Mus. Hein., Theil. i. p. 103 (note).—Horsf. and Moore, Cat. of Birds in Mus. East-Ind.
Comp., vol. ii. p. 735.—Jerd. Birds of India, vol. i. p. 367.
T h is Sun-bird is another of the ornithological gems which must tend to enhance the interest which attaches
to the productions of the great Himalayan range of mountains ; for, although it is not decorated with the
rich scarlet hue of N . Gouldia? and N . ignicauda, this deficiency is amply compensated by the deep maroon-
colour of the back, and the rich steel-blue of the crown, throat, rump, and upper tail-feathers, with the
contrast they present to the black of the chest,' the deep brown of the primaries, and the olive-green of the
lengthened flank-plumes; besides which, its adornment is rendered still more complete by the addition of a
faint line of yellow across the rump, separating tine maroon o f the back from the steel-blue of the upper
tail-coverts; this mark, however, is so slight that too little of it is apparent to break the harmony o f the
general colouring. The present bird is in every respect .a true JEthojpyga, notwithstanding that it differs
from the other specie# in colour. The specific term saturate, although the oldest, is not the only one
that has been assigned to it, McClelland having called it Assamensis, and Sir W. Jardine Hodgsonii.
I t appears to be a law among th% Nectarinice for the females to be dull green and destitute of any markings
to relieve their uniformity; while the males, as will be seen on reference to the several illustrations, are as
constantly clothed in some rich livery, have a much m ore elegant contour, and much longer tails.
The N . saturata appears to prefer regions of an equable temperature; for it neither ascends to the bleak
elevations o f the ranges, nor descends to the heated forests of the Terrai, which skirt the vast chain of
mountains known as the Himalayas. Mr. Moore states that it inhabits Bhotan, and Dr. Jerdon that it extends
its range into Assam and Sikhim, where he found it abundant at an elevation of from three to 5000 feet.
The male has the crown of the head, and nape; and a narrow stripe down each side of the throat brilliant
violet-blue; lores, ear-coverts, sides of the neck, wings, rump, throat, and centre of the belly black; back
and wing-coverts deep maroon-red; across the rump a faint line of yellow; upper tail-coverts and basal
portion of the two centre tail-feathers fine glossy steel-blue ; wings brown; apical portion of the two central
and the lateral tail-feathers dull black ; lengthened flank-feathers, lower p art of the abdomen, and under
tail-coverts very pale olive-green; irides brown; bill black ; legs brown.
The female is dull olive-green on the upper surface, with the throat and breast greyish o live; abdomen
and under tail-coverts greenish yellow.
The figures represent the two sexes, of the natural size. The plant is the Lumnga scandens.