899. Arachnechthra andamanica. The Andaman $nu.-hi,'<l.
Arachnechthra frenata (Mull.), apud Ball, J. A. S. B. xli, pt. 2,
p. 280 ; id. S. F. , p. 65.
Arachnechthra andamanica, Hume, S. F. i, p. 404, ii, p. 198 ; Oafes in Hume's N. $ E. 2nd ed. ii, p. 262.
Cinuyris andanianicus (Hume), Shelley, Man. Nect. pp. xxvii, 157, pi. 50 ; Hume, Cat. no. 234 quat. ; Gadow, Cat. B. M. ix, p. 83.
Coloration. Male. Differs from the male of A. flammaxillaris in having a longer bill, the pectoral tufts pale yellow, unmixed with red, the maroon and black bands below the breast nearly absent, the band surrounding the chin, throat, and breast steel-green instead of blue, and in frequently having a pale supercilium.
Female. Resembles the female of A. flammaxillaris, from which it only differs in having the bill longer.
Bill, legs, and feet black ; iris deep brown (Hume). Of the same size as A. flammaxillaris, with the exception of the bill, which measures *9 to 1 from gape to tip according to sex.
Distribution. The Andaman Islands.
Habits, <$fc. A nest of this species was found on the 3rd March with two eggs. The nest appears to have been very similar to that of A. asiatica. One egg measured '67 by *48.
900. Arachnechthra minima. The Small Sun-bird.
Cinuyris minima, Sykes, P. Z. S. 1832, p. 99 ; Shelley, Mon. Nect. pp. xxvii, xxxiv, 143, pi. 46 ; Leyge, Birds Ceyl. p. 572 j Hume, Cat. no. 233 ; Gadow, Cat. B. M. ix, p. 62 j Davison, S. F. x, p. 362 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 136.
Nectarinia minima (Si/kes), Blyth, Cat. p. 226.
Leptocoma minima (Sykes], Horsf. fy M. Cat. ii, p. 742 ; Jerd. B. I. i, p. 369; Hume, N. # E. p. '150; Fall-bank. S. F. iv, p. 256;
Hume, S. F. iv, p. 392.
Arachnechthra minima (Sykes), Oates in Hume's N. fy E. 2nd ed. ii, p. 263.
The Tiny Honey-sucker, Jerd.
Coloration. Male. Forehead and crown metallic green ; back and scapulars deep crimson ; rump and upper tail-coverts metallic red, glossed with lilac ; tail black ; lesser and median wing-coverts black, tipped with crimson ; remaining coverts and quills dull black ; sides of the head dull black ; chin and throat metallic lilac ; sides of neck and the upper breast crimson, followed by a band of black ; remainder of lower plumage yellow ; axillaries and under wing-coverts pale yellowish white.
Female. Upper plumage and sides of the head and neck olive-green ; rump and upper tail-coverts dull red ; tail dark brown, edged with rufous; whole lower plumage yellow; wings brown, each feather edged with olive-green.
Bill, legs, and feet black ; iris dark brown (Davison).
